Special address

" From his experience all health systems claim to have problems with lack of money. However, he believes that “there is enough money in the system, it just being poorly used”. "

" America spent 2 trillion dollars - 16% of GNP on health. "

" 75% of 2 trillion is spent on chronic disease. "

" We wait till we get sick and then we go to a doctor. "

" 50% of deaths worldwide are due to chronic disease: respiratory, smoking, cardio-vascular, diabetes. "

" Last year (2005) in America, smoking killed 442, 000 Americans. "

" Comments on how drugs which do good are regulated, compared to cigarettes, which are not. "

" There currently lacks the courage to stand up and say “nicotine kills” "

" 60% of smokers in the world give up 14 years and 6 months of their lives by smoking. "

" Tommy Thompson would like to eradicate smoking. "

" Investing in educating the dangers of smoking would be “the smartest investment a business can make”. "

" Not only would it help prevent chronic disease, but would also improve employee productivity and lower the health care cost. "

" Second biggest danger after smoking is diabetes. "

" Last year in USA, 18 million Americans had type 2 diabetes. This year, 21 million are type 2 diabetic. "

" One in 14 dollars is currently spent on diabetes. This is projected to decrease to 1 in 8 dollars in 5 years time if actions are not made to improve the current situation. "

" Last year, $135 billion dollars was spent on diabetes. This year the figure rose to $145 billion dollars. "

" If you walk 30 minutes a day you can reduce 5-10% of your body weight. This can help reduce the instance of type 2 diabetes by 60% "

" Implement techniques to educate and encourage better health, for example, employ a nutritionist to advise workers, subsidise salads and other health foods and increase the price of unhealthy alternatives. "

" Chunky is good, but slim is better. You must start exercising to prevent obesity. Thank you. "