WHO urges Pacific Islanders to quit smoking

WHO urges Pacific Islanders to prevent or give up tobacco on World No Tobacco Day

Press Release – Suva, 27 May, 2010

Dr Chen Ken, World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in the South Pacific, is calling on Fiji and other Pacific island countries and areas to protect women and girls from efforts by the tobacco industry to induce them to start smoking, in the lead up to World No Tobacco Day, on next Monday, 31 May.
The theme of World No Tobacco Day, 2010 is Gender and Tobacco, with Emphasis on Marketing to Women.

Women who smoke are more likely to experience infertility and delays in conceiving, maternal smoking during pregnancy also increases risk of premature delivery, stillbirth and newborn death and may cause a reduction in breast milk.
Smoking also increases women’s risks for many cancers, including cancers of the mouth, pharynx, oesophagus, larynx, bladder, pancreas and cancer. Having a tobacco-free environment is also woman’s right.

Dr Chen Ken said: “Tobacco use is the second cause of death globally, after hypertension, and is currently responsible for killing one in 10 adults worldwide. This year we want to draw particular attention to the harmful effects of tobacco marketing and smoke on women and girls. Tobacco use is the number one preventable epidemic that the health community faces and we want to encourage everyone to reduce tobacco use in Fiji and other Pacific island countries and areas.”

Dr Chen Ken also calls policy makers, civil society and nongovernmental organizations and the public to work together to protect women from tobacco marketing and smoke.

The WHO and the Ministry of Health, Fiji, will launch World No Tobacco Day on Monday, May 31st, 2010 at Nabukaluka Village, Naitasiri, which will be also declared the third Tobacco-Free Village in Fiji. The first Tobacco-Free Village, Nabila Village, Fiji received the WHO World No Tobacco Day Award in 2006.

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