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Focused cessation efforts key to prevent tobacco use
The World Health Organization (WHO) has said delivering high-quality and accessible tobacco cessation programs are one of the key measures, including higher taxes and stronger law enforcement, in the fight against tobacco
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he World Health Organization (WHO) has said delivering high-quality and accessible tobacco cessation programs are one of the key measures, including higher taxes and stronger law enforcement, in the fight against tobacco.
The UN body said that many countries in South and East Asia have been making substantial progress in implementing tobacco control and prevention measures.
'Bangladesh is among the seven countries in the world that have raised taxes over 75 percent of the retail price of a pack of cigarettes. Close on its heels are Sri Lanka and Thailand, with 70 percent,' the WHO said in a statement on Tuesday.
The WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic released on Tuesday shows that between 2012 and 2014, Bangladesh, India and the Maldives have made progress in increasing taxes on cigarettes.
'Bangladesh and Indonesia have implemented pictorial health warnings. Nepal has made progress in implementing bans on advertisement, promotion and sponsorships of tobacco products, while Myanmar has expanded smoke-free places,' the report says.
It further reveals Thailand has successfully protected warning label requirements, namely 85 percent of the two largest surfaces of cigarette packs and cartons. Meanwhile, India's comprehensive tobacco control program has expanded to cover the entire nation.
'Countries in the region need to strengthen their initiatives against tobacco that continues to cause premature deaths while adding to the increasing epidemic of non-communicable diseases, such as chronic lung disease, heart ailments and cancer,' the WHO report said. (ebf)(+++)
