A five-year report highlighting progress under the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use (BI) has been released by the US-based foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies. Among the findings: 21 countries have passed 100% smokefree laws, and there has been a 400% increase in people protected from second-hand smoke.

 

 

The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) has been managing grants in over 33 low- and middle- income countries under the BI programme since the onset of the programme in 2007. Union grantees have been active in a range of activities covered in the report, including achieving 100% smokefree environments and improving tobacco control legislation in general, as well as investing in training public health professionals. The Union's support for grantees has also included giving technical and legal advice on a variety of tobacco control issues.

 

Dr Nils E Billo, Executive Director of The Union said, "The report is greatly encouraging as we continue to implement programmes to reduce tobacco's harmful effects on individuals, families and whole populations." The Union works in conjunction with World Lung Foundation (WLF) and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK) to support governments and NGOs in countries that have ratified the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC) to fulfil their obligations under the treaty.

 

Success in tobacco control is built up over time and requires painstaking persistence to achieve. Some of the outcomes of The Union's engagement with grantees have included:

 

• China: Nineteen universities in China currently deliver a compulsory tobacco control course for public health students; smokefree legislation is spreading throughout China, with the city governments of Tianjin and Shenzhen committing to additional support for the smokefree environment project initiative.
• India: Several states and cities, including Mizoram, Gujarat and Ernakulum, have been active in implementing tobacco control laws that include bans on smoking in public areas.
• Indonesia: The Union helped establish the Mayors' Alliance to promote smokefree initiatives across major cities there.
• Russia: In August the release of the draft legislation "On Protection of Health of Citizens against Harmful Effects of Tobacco Consumption" was announced addressing all FCTC requirements.
• Brazil: The country banned the retail display of tobacco products in December 2010.
• Mexico: The Mexican Congress backed a significant tax rise in October 2010.
• Turkey: Turkey is a leader ahead of many European countries in smokefree legislation and tax rises on tobacco products.
• Egypt: Despite the political changes there, grantees and partners continue to support the taxation rises on tobacco products. Alexandria, Luxor and Port Said have been declared smokefree.
• Argentina: Buenos Aires became smokefree in December 2010, which eventually spread to the whole country on World No Tobacco Day 2011.
• Training: Nearly 3,000 people have attended The Union's technical training workshops and International Management Development Programme courses for tobacco control.

 

The Bloomberg report stresses some of the most significant achievements noted during the past five years. In addition to the increase in countries with 100% smokefree laws and the improvement in protection from second-hand smoke, 4,500 journalists in low- and middle-income countries have been educated about tobacco control issues and 7,000 public health professionals have received training in tobacco control.

 

Tobacco contributes to the deaths of nearly six million tobacco users die each year and a further 600,000 deaths are attributed to second-hand smoke. It is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease, cancers and diabetes. Consequently tobacco control is a priority for The Union, which, with the help of BI, WLF, CTFK and other partners, will continue to support countries where the burden of tobacco use needs to be addressed.

 

For the full report see http://www.mikebloomberg.com/FiveYearsOfProgress.