WHO launches new report on the global tobacco epidemic

The Director-General World health organisation (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has urged governments to implement Tobacco cessation services as part of efforts to ensure universal health coverage for their citizens.

Dr Tedros, said during the launch of the seventh WHO Report on the global tobacco epidemic analyses and national efforts to implement the most effective measures from the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) that are proven to reduce demand for tobacco.

He said Tobacco cessation services include national toll-free quit lines, Cessation services to reach larger populations via mobile phones, counselling by primary health care providers and cost-covered nicotine replacement therapy

“Quitting tobacco is one of the best things any person can do for their own health,” said Dr Tedros. “The MPOWER package gives governments the practical tools to help people kick the habit, adding years to their life and life to their years.” Said Dr Tedros

“Tobacco use has also declined proportionately in most countries, but population growth means the total number of people using tobacco has remained stubbornly high. Currently, there are an estimated 1.1 billion smokers, around 80 percent of whom live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).” He said

He said Progress is being made, with 2.4 billion people living in countries now providing comprehensive cessation services. 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 indicates that many countries are not adequately implementing policies, including helping people quit tobacco that can save lives from tobacco.

These measures, like the ‘MPOWER’ interventions, have been shown to save lives and reduce costs from averted healthcare expenditure.

The MPOWER report was launched in 2007 to promote government action on six tobacco control strategies in-line with the WHO FCTC to Monitor tobacco use and prevention policies, Protect people from tobacco smoke, Offer help to quit tobacco use, Warn people about the dangers of tobacco, Enforcing bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship and Raising taxes on tobacco.

Michael R. Bloomberg, WHO Global Ambassador for No communicable Diseases and Injuries and founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies, said the report shows government-led efforts to help people quit tobacco work when properly implemented.

“More countries are making tobacco control a priority and saving lives, but there’s still much more work to be done,” said Mr Bloomberg. “The WHO’s new report shines a spotlight on global efforts to help people quit using tobacco and it details some of our most important gains.”

The report, funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, 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.