NUMBER OF SMOKERS IN ARMENIA IS REDUCING

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[08:55 pm] 31 May, 2007

The universal day of fight against smoke was celebrated in Armenia
with "Free of Smoke Environment: create and enjoy" slogan. According
to the "Universal Organization of Health", cigarette is the second
main reason of deaths in the world. There is a statistics that about
650 million smokers in the world will die of smoking. There is a
tendency of cancer extension in Armenia. More than 1000 death cases
are registered in Armenia yearly.

"About 60 percent of men and about 3 percent of women smoke in
Armenia. When in 2000 67 percent of men and 9 percent of women smoked",
said Dr. Alexander Bazarchyan, Coordinator of Tobacco Control Program
of the RA Ministry of Health. He mentioned that the number of smokers
in Armenia was reducing. 100 million dollars was donated to a number
of NGOs from the state budget for the fight against smoking and many of
the NGOs were awarded for carrying out fruitful combat against smoking.

The most active age of smokers is 16-40 in Armenia.

Women start smoking at the age 20 while studying at universities
and according to Bazarchyan: "Many smoke since it is
stylish. Advertisements also play their role in this case".

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress