2023-07-31 14:05:03
The World Health Organization (WHO) took stock of the fight against tobacco on Monday, distinguishing four countries that have applied all of its recommendations.
The fight against tobacco is progressing, welcomes the World Health Organization (WHO) in a report published on Monday which also shows how far there is still to go.
According to the WHO, 5.6 billion people – 71% of the world’s population – are now protected by at least one tobacco control measure, five times more than in 2007. In 15 years, the global rate of tobacco use has down from 22.8% in 2007 to 17.0% in 2021.
“Slowly but surely more and more people are being protected from the harms of tobacco,” its director, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said in a statement.
Taxes, prevention…
The WHO set up its MPOWER program in 2008, a set of measures to help countries reduce the demand for tobacco, around six policies: protect the population against tobacco smoke, increase taxes, monitor consumption, offer help to those who want to quit, warn of the dangers and enforce the ban on tobacco .
The WHO estimates that without the measures taken since by countries, there would be 300 million more smokers in the world today.
“These are not just numbers. These measures have literally changed our lives,” noted the director of the Department of Health Promotion at WHO, Dr Ruediger Krech, at a press conference.
44 countries without tobacco protection
However, 2.3 billion people in 44 countries are still not protected by any of the measures recommended by the WHO, and 53 countries have still not imposed a complete ban on smoking in health care establishments.
Each year, some 8.7 million people die worldwide from tobacco-related diseases, of which 1.3 million are victims of passive smoking.
Only four countries have reached the level of best practice in tobacco control: Brazil, Turkey, Mauritius and the Netherlands.
“For eight countries, only one policy is missing from the MPOWER program to join the leaders in tobacco control: Spain, Ethiopia, Iran, Ireland, Jordan, Madagascar, Mexico and New Zealand,” Dr Krech said.
A powerful industry
“The tobacco industry is a powerful and resourceful industry that even today continues to grow in terms of profits and influence. But we can fight back,” he said.
During the press conference, the Mauritian Minister of Health, Dr Kailesh Jagutpal, explained the need for countries to discuss with the tobacco industry before the implementation of new regulations, for example by setting deadlines for societies have time to adapt. “Otherwise, the industry is ready to develop any tactics to fight you,” he added.
According to the WHO, nearly 40% of countries now provide for completely smoke-free enclosed public places. Some countries go even further: 25 countries, including Australia, have made it illegal to smoke in a car carrying children.
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