Neglected Global Epidemics: three growing threats One of the most advanced mixes of population-level smoking cessation initiatives is in New Zealand, where 50% of the indigenous population are smokers (21). Services include a na- tional Quitline, subsidized nicotine replacement therapy, Maori-focused services including quitting support and therapy for Maori women and their families, and a hospital-based quit ting service Key factors in establishing programmes including cessation activities are media campaigns, an active tobacco control lobby, proactive policy analysts and a supportive go ernment;tax increases also create incentives to help people to stop smoking The FCTC is a global response to the pandemic of tobacco-induced death and disease. The opening of the Convention for signature and ratification provides an unprecedented oppor tunity for countries to strengthen national tobacco control capacity. Success in controlling the tobacco epidemic requires continuing political engagement and additional resources at both global and national levels. The resulting improvement in health, especially of poor populations, will be a major public health achievement Road traffic hazards: hidden epidemics More than 20 million people are severely injured or killed on the worlds roads each year. The burden falls most heavily on developing countries, where it will grow heavier still because of the rapid increase in the number of vehicles. In addition to the direct costs of road injuries and deaths, the increase in the number of vehicles and reliance on certain transport policies have other serious health implications as well as wider social, economic and environmental impacts(22). In some countries, air poll tion from road transport causes even more deaths than those resulting from traffic accidents (23). Besides the direct impacts on respiratory and heart disease, motorized transport pro duces around a quarter of the anthropogenic emissions of gases leading to climate change (24). These " hidden epidemics"receive relatively little national or international attention compared with the focus on major communicable and noncommunicable diseases To a large extent, road injuries are preventable. There are many available and affordable in terventions that can prevent injuries and save lives: to date, most of the evaluation of these Figure 6.2 Projected tobacco-related mortality patterns 18 Current course 16 14 ffective prevention 12 Increased treatment and tobacco control 20002005201020152020202520302035204020452050 Source: (18). YearNeglected Global Epidemics: three growing threats 95 One of the most advanced mixes of population-level smoking cessation initiatives is in New Zealand, where 50% of the indigenous population are smokers (21). Services include a na￾tional Quitline, subsidized nicotine replacement therapy, Maori-focused services including quitting support and therapy for Maori women and their families, and a hospital-based quit￾ting service. Key factors in establishing programmes including cessation activities are media campaigns, an active tobacco control lobby, proactive policy analysts and a supportive gov￾ernment; tax increases also create incentives to help people to stop smoking. The FCTC is a global response to the pandemic of tobacco-induced death and disease. The opening of the Convention for signature and ratification provides an unprecedented oppor￾tunity for countries to strengthen national tobacco control capacity. Success in controlling the tobacco epidemic requires continuing political engagement and additional resources at both global and national levels. The resulting improvement in health, especially of poor populations, will be a major public health achievement. Road traffic hazards: hidden epidemics More than 20 million people are severely injured or killed on the world’s roads each year. The burden falls most heavily on developing countries, where it will grow heavier still because of the rapid increase in the number of vehicles. In addition to the direct costs of road injuries and deaths, the increase in the number of vehicles and reliance on certain transport policies have other serious health implications as well as wider social, economic and environmental impacts (22). In some countries, air pollu￾tion from road transport causes even more deaths than those resulting from traffic accidents (23). Besides the direct impacts on respiratory and heart disease, motorized transport pro￾duces around a quarter of the anthropogenic emissions of gases leading to climate change (24). These “hidden epidemics” receive relatively little national or international attention compared with the focus on major communicable and noncommunicable diseases. To a large extent, road injuries are preventable. There are many available and affordable in￾terventions that can prevent injuries and save lives: to date, most of the evaluation of these 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050 Figure 6.2 Projected tobacco-related mortality patterns Cumulative deaths (millions) 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Current course Effective prevention Increased treatment and tobacco control Source: (18). Year