Karas tops in puffing

KEETMANSHOOP – The number of reported cases of lung cancer in the Karas Region rose from four in 2002 to 11 in 2003.

In the corresponding time, the tuberculosis (TB) cases in the region increased dramatically. Health Minister Dr Libertina Amathila, in a speech read on her behalf by Karas Governor Stephanus Goliath, during activities to commemorate the World No Tobacco Day on Monday, said the region had the highest proportion of smokers in the country.The Minister said statistics from the Karas Region underscored the need to step up anti-tobacco campaigns.”I would, therefore, like to seize this opportunity to encourage all Namibian smokers to always remember that cigarette smoking is addictive and a killer,” she said.Amathila also had a special message for smokers, especially the youth: “Tobacco smoke enters the body silently and smoothly, but kills ruthlessly.”In May 2003, Namibia joined 191 countries at the annual World Health Assembly in Geneva in passing an international convention aimed at curbing the use of tobacco.At present it is estimated that tobacco-related diseases are the cause of about five million deaths a year worldwide.About 70 per cent of these deaths are in developing countries.- NampaHealth Minister Dr Libertina Amathila, in a speech read on her behalf by Karas Governor Stephanus Goliath, during activities to commemorate the World No Tobacco Day on Monday, said the region had the highest proportion of smokers in the country.The Minister said statistics from the Karas Region underscored the need to step up anti-tobacco campaigns.”I would, therefore, like to seize this opportunity to encourage all Namibian smokers to always remember that cigarette smoking is addictive and a killer,” she said.Amathila also had a special message for smokers, especially the youth: “Tobacco smoke enters the body silently and smoothly, but kills ruthlessly.”In May 2003, Namibia joined 191 countries at the annual World Health Assembly in Geneva in passing an international convention aimed at curbing the use of tobacco.At present it is estimated that tobacco-related diseases are the cause of about five million deaths a year worldwide.About 70 per cent of these deaths are in developing countries.- Nampa