DILI, 18 november 2021 (TATOLI)—World Health Organization (WHO) is lauded the decline in tobacco use in Southeast Asia Region (ASIA).
Southeast Asia Region (SEARO) Regional Director, Poonam Khetrapal Singh lauds the efforts of countries to drive a sharp decline in tobacco use in the Southeast Asia Region.
She said persistent and concerted efforts over the years, and which have continued despite the pandemic, must be maintained and further scaled up to rid the area of the scourge of tobacco.
“Continued political commitment and relentless efforts by countries to strengthen surveillance, expand tobacco control measures including cessation services to help users quit smoking are some of the main reasons for its success,” said Director Poonam.
Over the years, countries in the Region have strengthened tobacco control measures. The Asian region currently has the highest proportion of the population covered by tobacco control for monitoring tobacco use prevalence and tobacco control policies.
Thailand is the first country in Asia to implement Ordinary Packaging. Timor-Leste, Nepal, Maldives, India and Sri Lanka have implemented large graphic health warnings on tobacco packaging. Six countries have banned ENDS (e-cigarettes). Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka are working to move tobacco farmers away from growing tobacco.
Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste have established and improved tobacco cessation services. As per the WHO Global Report on Trends in Tobacco Use Prevalence 2000-2025 (4th ed., 2021), WHO Southeast Asia Region has achieved the fastest rate of decline in tobacco use with the average prevalence of smoking among men decreasing from 50% in 2000 to 25% by 2025 and smoking among women declined sharply from 8.9% in 2000 to 1.6% in 2025.
This progress can be attributed to the effective implementation of the FCTC (Framework Convention on Tobacco Control) package and WHO’s six components of MPOWER which is a cost-effective and high-impact measure to help countries reduce tobacco demand and supply, along with best purchases to successfully tackle the epidemic, tobacco.
Tobacco use is one of the main risk factors for non-communicable diseases and effective tobacco control is important for the prevention and control of NCDs – the region’s top priority since 2014. India and Nepal are among the countries likely to achieve a relative 30% reduction in tobacco use to meet the targets of the Global PTM action plan by 2025. If tobacco control efforts continue at current levels, smoking rates in the Region could reach as low as 11% by 2025.
This would be the second lowest Regional average rate after Africa – 7.5% by 2025. “Best buy, a cost-effective set of actions to address NCDs, continues to be at the core of the Regional response, recognizing the need for countries to identify & implement the most effective, feasible and affordable interventions whatever their resourcing arrangements,” he said.
The region currently has the highest tobacco use rates, with about 432 million users, or 29% of the population. It is also home to 266 million smokeless tobacco users out of 355 million globally. Countries in the Asian Region maintain tobacco control measures during the pandemic.
WHO is supporting countries to accelerate and strengthen support for tobacco users to quit during the pandemic with evidence that smokers – current and former – are more likely to suffer from severe COVID-19.
Targeted strategies are needed to address the challenges of smokeless tobacco use, especially among women. Nearly 40% of women who use tobacco use only smokeless tobacco. There is clear evidence that tobacco control measures are successful and highly effective in reducing tobacco consumption.
WHO advocates for all countries to maintain and accelerate the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and the MPOWER package.
With sustained and accelerated efforts, and using the power of innovation, countries in the Region can fulfill their commitments to the FCTC and the 2030 Sustainable Development agenda, leaving no one behind.
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Nelia Borges Rosario
