Pakistan along with other countries will observe World No Tobacco Day on May 31 with the theme “The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control”. Tobacco consumption has emerged to be the leading preventable cause of death as its use kills more than five million people every year, about 1.5 million of whom are women. Experts talking to APP on Wednesday said the day observed each year provides an opportunity to review initiatives taken to counter tobacco smoking and chewing coupled with the associated health risks.
This researchers said holds extreme relevance as all signatory governments are obliged to implement the treaty and must also periodically review the pace of its progress. “We have to review the situation in our particular context,” said Dr. Javaid A Khan, representative of WHO FCTC for Pakistan. “We like many of the developing countries are facing growing pressure from the tobacco industry,” he said.
The parties to the Convention have already reaffirmed their strong commitment to prioritize health measures and to exchange information on the industry’s activities that attempt to interfere with the implementation of public health policies.
Countries, having already ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) have also adopted new guidelines for implementation of different provisions of the treaty. “Most important of these is the integration of cessation services into the national health systems,” said Dr. Khan. This he said is particularly focussed on young smokers keen to quit.
Moreover, government policy towards price and taxation of tobacco products is also being monitored and required assistance is provided to motivate public representatives, policy makers as well as those actively involved in budgetary making processes.