Dear HIFA colleagues,
I am forwarding below a google translation of a message on HIFA-Spanish from tobacco control expert Eduardo Bianco. Eduardo has made many of these points on HIFA-English but this is a great overview, especially for those who have recently joined us.
In particular I note Eduardo's comment: "many health professionals and most politicians are still not fully aware of the magnitude, nature, and characteristics of the tobacco problem (including the role of the tobacco industry) and effective tobacco control interventions"
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Tobacco consumption is the main cause of death, absolutely preventable, worldwide. Quitting smoking is the most important health decision smokers can make.
Facing the tobacco epidemic is very difficult - mainly in developing countries - due to the addictiveness of nicotine, large economic interests and the undue influence of the tobacco industry.
To deal with smoking, the WHO promoted the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), the first international health treaty under its auspices, which entered into force internationally in 2005. Today, 183 Parties, covering 90% of the world population, are members. The WHO FCTC contains evidence-based provisions such as: increasing tobacco taxes and prices; smoke-free environments; graphic health warnings on packaging; prohibition of advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco, help smokers to quit smoking and carry out campaigns in the media, among others. .
The WHO-FCTC is having a significant impact. However, progress is uneven and, in some countries, very slow. It faces several challenges: weak commitment from governments, inadequate public awareness of the harms of smoking, the illicit tobacco trade, scarce financial resources to help quit smoking, and weak research capacity. But his biggest hurdle is interference from the tobacco industry.
Health professionals (HP), given their influence in society, have a prominent role to play in tobacco control and smoking cessation.
But by themselves they will not achieve a significant impact on public health. It is necessary to learn to involve politicians, who are key in the design and approval of effective tobacco control policies.
In societies where most of these indicated interventions were applied in a short time, as in my country Uruguay, rapid reductions in smoking are achieved, mainly among young people, which decreased from 30% to almost 10% in about ten years. The National Medical Association (SMU) played a key role.
Unfortunately, many health professionals and most politicians are still not fully aware of the magnitude, nature, and characteristics of the tobacco problem (including the role of the tobacco industry) and effective tobacco control interventions .
I hope this discussion will help us all better understand the tobacco control situation in our respective countries, and help improve it.
Dr. Eduardo Bianco
HIFA Profile-Spanish: Eduardo Bianco is the Director of International Policy on Addiction Education at the Frank Foundation for International Health, Uruguay. Interests: Cessation and treatment of smoking, Tobacco Control Policies, Addictions, Non-Communicable Diseases. Email: ebianco AT nextgenu.org
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Neil PW, HIFA moderator
