Kigali — The campaign to fight smoking will have to reduce on the number of smokers who die worldwide now estimated at five million annually. This means that about 13,661 people die daily due to smoking.

If the current tobacco consumption patterns continue, the number of deaths will reach 10 million per year by 2020, of which 70% will occur in developing countries, according to reports from the World Health Organisation.

It says the situation is moving from bad to worse as the tobacco industry relocates to the poor South, fleeing harsh regulations in the developed countries. "This Region has to confront this epidemic quickly because tobacco consumption is a preventable cause of death," Sambo is quoted as saying.

The statistics released in preparation for the World No tobacco Day marked recently to create a tobacco free society centred on the theme: "The role of health professionals on tobacco control.

A message by the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Gomes Sambo, called on all professionals to take serious measures in having a free tobacco society.

"Today, as the world benefits from a valuable instrument, with the entry into force of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, we urge health professionals in the African Region to fully play their role to help our people benefit from a healthy environment, a world free of tobacco," Sambo said.

He also added: World No Tobacco Day (focused) on engaging health professionals at every level in tobacco control. The official called on patients and clients to turn to their health professional for guidance on tobacco use.

In the year 2000, tobacco use prevalence was 29% in males and 7% in females in Africa. The results of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey on smoking for 13 to 15 year old school youths from 19 countries of the African region show a prevalence ranging from 10% to 33%.

Speaking to some hardcore smokers in Kigali city on the impression about quitting and smoking dangers, Emmanuel Mugisha, a businessman, revealed that if the law is passed on smoking in public, the government should have provisions of smoker's kiosks. "After 15 years of smoking, I can quit because the law has to be respected. I only hope that treatment and counseling services can be provided to those trying to quit smoking.

This year was dedicated to special media campaign and awareness in the public about the dangers and Rwanda is among the 178 countries that adopted the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.