Tobacco diseases kill 240 everyday

THE Department of Health revealed on Monday that hundreds of Filipinos die every day from tobacco-related diseases.

During a press conference, Health Undersecretary Teodoro Herbosa said that at least 240 Filipinos lose their lives because of smoking.

“Smoking cigarettes is really very dangerous to one’s health,” Herbosa warned.

According to the Health official, the Philippines spends about P235 billion a year because of illnesses and deaths brought about by cigarette smoking.

This amount collectively spent by the government and private individuals is higher than the “P25-billion tax collected [from] the tobacco companies,” he said.

Herbosa called on other government agencies and concerned sectors to warn the public against dangers of cigarette-smoking.

To mark June as No Smoking Month, he said that his department, together with the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Philippine National Police and Commission on Higher Education, would use the BalikEskwela campaign to push for the enforcement of 100-percent smoke free schools.
Health Secretary Enrique Ona had said that the number of people smoking in the country continues to increase.

“Tobacco use is taking a terrible toll on the health of our country, and it is the duty of the government to reverse that trend through evidence-based policy and solid implementation,” he added.

The Health department, meanwhile, announced that a group of Filipino and international health experts had observed and interviewed at least 128 people representing 78 institutions to assess the country’s efforts to reduce tobacco use.

Although the experts noted that progress had been made in curbing tobacco use, they recommended changes in five key areas:

• Change how tobacco is taxed. Cigarettes are very cheap for most Filipinos to buy and increasing taxes would both reduce the number of smokers and increase the amount of money available for public health programs.

• Invest in 100-percent smoke-free environments. Local governments are making great strides in protecting people from second-hand smoke, but there is not enough technical and financial support to expand [this effort] nationwide. Increasing the resources available could deliver substantial health benefits.

• Place graphic health warnings on cigarette packs. Currently cigarette packs only carry text warnings in English, which means [that] they are not effective for millions of Filipinos. According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey in the Philippines, 38 percent of current smokers who recalled seeing pack warnings have thought about quitting.

• Do more hard-hitting mass media campaigns. Mass media campaigns that warn people about the harm of smoking have scientifically shown to prompt smokers to try quitting and to make non-smokers more hesitant to take up the habit. The report recommends that the health agency to develop and air at least four campaigns a year to change the prevailing acceptability of tobacco use in the Philippines

• Help smokers quit. Even though most smokers quit on their own, people who try to quit are more likely to accomplish their goal if they have support. The report recommends involving the medical community to give advice to patients, provide counseling services and give access to affordable medication.

Dr. Armando Peruga, program manager of World Health Organization Tobacco Free Initiative, said that despite a history of efforts to curb tobacco use, the tobacco epidemic is actually on the rise in the Philippines. –Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz, Reporter, Manila Times