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World No Tobacco Day - Seychellois urged to help create a smoke-free society |30 May 2015

 

 

All Seychellois are being urged to adopt a healthy lifestyle and abstain from smoking and give full support to measures taken in Seychelles towards a smoke-free society.
The appeal comes in a message by the Minister for Health Mitcy Larue on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day to be celebrated tomorrow, May 31.
The full text of Minister Larue’s message reads:

“Every year on May 31, World No Tobacco Day is a special occasion to highlight risks associated with tobacco use and to raise awareness of the need to reduce tobacco use in the population. The theme chosen by the World Health Organisation this year is about ‘Stopping illicit trade of tobacco products’ as illicit trade of tobacco control is an important global threat to tobacco control worldwide.

“The last survey conducted in Seychelles a year ago shows that the prevalence of tobacco use in adults has decreased, but the number of smokers is still high. It must always be reminded that smoking is and remains a preventable cause of death, particularly a main preventable cause of cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

“Over the past three decades, Seychelles has established several programmes and policies to protect the health of our people against tobacco use. This includes a comprehensive legislation enacted in 2009. A main provision is a ban on smoking in all enclosed public places and workplaces and on all public transports. This is indeed a major measure to protect both smokers and non-smokers from the hazards of cigarette smoke.  

“A survey conducted a few months ago in almost all restaurants, bars and discotheques in the country shows that very few persons were smoking in these premises, consistent with the ban on smoking in these premises, which is good news. However, the survey also showed that several regulations related to the smoking ban are not fully implemented.

“I commend the owners and managers of public places who have fully implemented the regulations, which protects the health of both their staff and clients.  We need however to further enforce the no-smoking measures in those places which do not comply fully with regulations. This includes adequate display of no smoking signs, removal of ashtrays and strict control to ensure that no person smokes in enclosed places.

“Tobacco control involves interventions in many sectors. In particular, adequate fiscal measures like taxation on tobacco products is a most effective measure to reduce smoking in the population. The Ministry of Finance recently increased taxes on tobacco products, consistent with international recommendations. I am glad to say that the World Health Organisation has just given an award to the Ministry of Finance for this move. This is the fourth award given by the World Health Organisation to individuals and organisations in Seychelles for outstanding contribution to tobacco control, which shows that Seychelles is very active and committed in its fight against tobacco use.

“I am also calling upon civil society and non-governmental organisations and all citizens of Seychelles for their continued support in helping reduce tobacco use in our society. This include voicing irregularities they notice and commitment to further promoting a smoke-free environment and help to ensure effective compliance with tobacco control regulations in their respective work and public places.  

“As highlighted by this year’s theme for World No Tobacco Day, it is also important to focus on the illicit trade on tobacco products. The illicit tobacco market accounts for as much as one in every 10 cigarettes consumed globally. The situation in Seychelles seems less worrying, yet efforts must be sustained to track illicit tobacco trade, both because illicit cigarettes may not only contain additives that are even more dangerous chemicals, but also because illicit trade is often associated with international crime organisations. Under the auspices of the World Health Organisation, countries including Seychelles have been developing a treaty to address how to handle illicit trade globally. Adoption of this treaty will provide several provisions for more effectiveness in tracking down illicit trade of tobacco products.  

“Finally, let me urge, one more time, all Seychellois to adopt a healthy lifestyle and abstain from smoking in your families and communities and give full support to measures taken in Seychelles towards a smoke free society.”

 

 

 

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