The seventh World Health Organisation (WHO) report on the global tobacco epidemic, published a few days ago, once again brought into focus efforts being made by governments and other health partners to implement the most effective measures from the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) aimed at reducing the demand for tobacco among citizens. The report also serves as a reminder that countries, including Guyana, would have to step up their efforts to bring the tobacco epidemic under control.
It was pointed out by WHO that many governments are making progress in the fight against tobacco, with 5 billion people today living in countries that have introduced smoking bans, graphic warnings on packaging and other effective tobacco control measures – four times more people than a decade ago. But this new report showed many countries are still not adequately implementing policies, including helping people quit tobacco, which can result in saving many lives.
The focus of this most recent report is on the progress countries have made to help tobacco users quit. WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was quoted as saying: “Quitting tobacco is one of the best things any person can do for their own health…the MPOWER package gives governments the practical tools to help people kick the habit, adding years to their life and life to their years”.
The report stated that progress is being made, with 2.4 billion people living in countries now providing comprehensive cessation services (2 billion more than in 2007). But only 23 countries are providing cessation services at the best-practice level, making it the most under-implemented MPOWER measure in terms of number of countries offering full coverage.
The report showed that while only 23 countries have implemented cessation support policies at the highest level, 116 more provide fully or partially cost-covered services in some or most health facilities, and another 32 offer services but do not cost-cover them, demonstrating a high level of public demand for support to quit.
According to the WHO, tobacco is responsible for around 7 million deaths per year worldwide. This includes 900,000 persons who die from diseases related to exposure to tobacco smoke. WHO has also explained that over 40% of all tobacco-related deaths are from lung diseases like cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and tuberculosis.
The Health Ministry in Guyana did quite a lot of work leading up to the approval of this country’s tobacco control law in 2017. This legislation followed several articles of the WHO Convention and mandated the adoption and implementation of a series of tobacco control policies that make it one of the most complete tobacco control laws. These include: 100% smoke free environments in all indoor public spaces, indoor work spaces, public transportation and specified outdoor spaces to protect people from exposure to tobacco smoke; a ban on all forms of advertising and promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products; health warnings featured on 60% of tobacco product packaging, including images. It also includes a ban on the sale of tobacco products to and by minors, prohibition on vending machines sales; and a ban on the manufacture and sale of toys and candies, and any other goods in the form of tobacco products.
The tobacco law positions Guyana as one of the most advanced Caribbean countries with regards to the implementation of the WHO FCTC. However, there is still much work to be done to win the battle against tobacco, as 78% of all deaths here are caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs)— some of which we all know are strongly related to tobacco use. Over 15% of the adult population currently smoke and more worryingly, the results of a Global Youth Tobacco Survey conducted in 2015 revealed that 14.8% of adolescents aged between 13 and 15 years also use tobacco.
Having the necessary legislation in place is a good starting point, but there are many other challenges which health authorities here must address if Guyana is to really reduce the number of persons dying or becoming ill as a result of tobacco use or exposure. These challenges relate to monitoring and compliance, and enforcement of the legislation to ensure that the population is protected from the dangers of tobacco use. The WHO report alluded to earlier provides data which could be very useful to health authorities here in getting persons to quit tobacco etc.
