As reported by the World Health Organisation, as the world’s population ages, gets richer, smokes more, eats more and drives more, non-communicable diseases will become big killers than infectious ones in the next twenty years.
The report, World Health Statistics 2008, shows that AIDS, tuberculosis, neonatal tetanus and malaria will become less important causes of death, as heart diseases, cancer, stroke, diabetes and traffic accidents claim greater percentages of victims.There will still vide disparities, the report says.Infectious diseases will remain major killers in
Dr.Tiers Boerma, Director of health statistics for the agency said that he had seen more obese people and more smokers in capitals around the developing world.While developing countries are associated with infectious diseases, heart disease and stroke are becoming the chief causes of death in more and more countries.
Annual deaths from AIDS are expected to fall to 1.8 % of all deaths in 2030 from more than 3 % now, the report said.
As WHO said,Tobacco companies are aggressively marketing to young people in poor countries.Almost a quarter of smokers started before the age 10 and as per its survey, teenagers found that 20 % owned clothing with cigarette brand logos.Citing freedom of choice, the companies work to breakdown traditions preventing women from smoking.
Worldwide, 100 million people each year are impoverished by paying for health care and 40 % of pregnant women and infants do not get basic health care or immunizations, the report said.
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