Cambodia. Media and related activities for WNTD 2012

Transcription

1 Cambodia Media and related activities for WNTD 2012 Media were used wisely to disseminate the theme of the WNTD 2012 to policy makers and public. This year WNTD theme aims at de-normalizing tobacco industry, its deadly products and it s so called Corporate Social Responsibility. This is the most appropriated chance to reveal tobacco industry tactics in subverting tobacco control policies and to call for Stop Tobacco Industry Interference in Public Health Policies. We also take this opportunity to urge the government to pass the Law on Tobacco Control, to adopt the Sub-Decree on Smoke-Free Environment and to effectively enforce the approved Sub-Decree on TAPS Ban and the Sub-Decree on Health Warning. Below are some of the recorded media activities initiated by Cambodia Movement for Health (CMH) in partnership with WHO, media agencies and other tobacco control advocates. (1) Talk-show at TVHM s Express News from 7:15-7:30 on 28 May The FCTC oriented lawyer was the speaker. (2) Interview of the famous SEA TV s Well-Being Program with the CMH s Executive Director on WNTD 2012, was aired on 28 May at 17:30-18:00 and replayed on 01 June 2012 at 7:30-8:00.

2 (3) Talk-show on AM918 at a very popular program Our lives our Society was lived on 29 May 2012 from 11:00-12:00 and repeated the same time on 01 June The Dr Yel Daravuth, the National Professional Office of WHO TFI, CMH Executive Director, and the FCTC oriented lawyer were the speakers. The show was connected to 7 radio channels (FM96, FM92.5, FM99.5, FM98.5, FM93, FM98.7, and FM92.7) that can be heard in even rural areas. (4) Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) had live interview on WNTD 2012 with the Executive Director of CMH on 30 May 2012 at 12:00-13:00. The interview was aired at ten FM channels (FM101.5, FM102, FM92.7, FM90.5, FM96.5, FM102.5, FM98.7, FM89.5, FM99.5, FM99.7), which were heard in rural provinces.

3 (5) A Press Conference on WNTD with the Launching of Smoke-Free Sports was organized on 30 May at 14:30-15:30 at the Olympic National Stadium. Dr Yel Daravuth, National Professional Officer of WHO TFI Cambodia and the Executive Director of CMH highlighted the WNTD theme and Article 5.3 while the Department of Sport of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport talked about smoke-free sports launching to support the WNTD Reporters from 21 media agencies participated in the press conference. As result, 31 articles/features/ stories of the press conference were aired, published and uploaded at 9 television channels, 7 radio channels, 10 newspapers, and 5 websites. Some articles/features/stories were repeated 2 to 3 times in television and radio.

4 (6) Talk-show on WNTD 2012 at TV Bayon s Knowledge Line was lived on 31 May 2012 from 17:30-19:00. One of our champions from the Council of Ministers, the FCTC s oriented lawyer and Dr Yel Daravuth, the National Professional Officer of WHO TFI Cambodia were the speakers. The talk-show was repeated on 1:30-3:00 and 13:30-15:00 on 01 June 2012.

5 REMARKS STEVEN IDDINGS WHO CAMBODIA REPRESENTATIVE AT THE WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY 31 May 2012 Ministry of Health room 202 YOUR EXCELLENCY DR MAM BUNHENG, MINISTER OF HEALTH; DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. I am pleased to share some remarks on this World No Tobacco Day, and I very much appreciate the Ministry of Health for hosting this important event. WHO is present here today for a very good reason: In 1987, during the 40 th anniversary of the World Health Assembly, WHO designated May 31 as World No Tobacco Day to draw global attention to the health risks of tobacco use. In 2005, the provisions of the WHO Framework on Tobacco Control took effect. A total of 175 countries have ratified this treaty, making it one of the most widely embraced treaties in United Nations history 1 Today, the 31 st of May, people in every country and continent will celebrate World No Tobacco Day. What does this mean? It means that millions of people in the world have the potential to take important steps and take control of their lives to be healthier, more productive and more responsible citizens. 1. World Health Organization. About the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; Available at Accessed May 7, 2012.

6 We are all here toady to celebrate the World No Tobacco Day, and to remind that we have reached some important milestones, and to continue to encourage everyone worldwide, who smokes, or chews tobacco to quit; to inform the public on the dangers of using tobacco, and to be mindful and vigilant of how the tobacco companies are pouring millions of dollars every year into addicting new tobacco users and keeping smokers from quitting. Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Tobacco use is a leading cause of death worldwide, killing nearly six million people per year, of whom more than are non-smokers exposed to second hand smoke 2. In Cambodia 2 million Cambodian adults currently consume tobacco products, of whom 1.4 million (42.5% of adult men and 3.5% of adult women) smoke cigarettes, and more than half a million (0.8% of adult men and 13.8% of adult women) chew tobacco in the form of a betel quid 3. According to the Mortality data released by WHO/HQ in 2011 it is estimated that close to 10,000 people die every year from diseases related to tobacco use in Cambodia. Consequently, tobacco use imposes enormous economic costs to the country and to the individual 4. The theme for this year s World No Tobacco Day is Tobacco Industry Interference. The slogan is Stop tobacco industry interference in Tobacco Control. Everyone can help. 2 World Health Organization. World No Tobacco Day Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; h ttp:// 3 National Adult Tobacco Survey of Cambodia (NATSC), NIS, Ministry of Planning World Health Organization, August 2011, Estimated death rates (per 100,000) and proportion attributable to tobacco, 2004, Geneva, World Health Organization,

7 Governments, nongovernment organizations, academia and individual citizens can all act to put an end to tobacco industry interference. All parties to the WHO FCTC have agreed on the ways to stop industry interference. They have adopted Guidelines for implementation of Article 5.3 of the FCTC, based on four principles: Principle 1: There is a fundamental and irreconcilable conflict between the tobacco industry s interests and public health policy interests. Principle 2: parties, when dealing with the tobacco industry or those working to further its interest, should be accountable and transparent. Principle 3: Parties should require the tobacco industry and those working to further its interests to operate and act in a manner that is accountable and transparent. Principle 4: Because their products are lethal, the tobacco industry should not be granted incentives to establish or run their businesses. Based on these principles, governments should take action to prevent tobacco industry interference in tobacco control and public health. Dr Margaret Chan, Director General of WHO, in her keynote speech, 15 th World Conference on Tobacco or Health, Singapore, 20 March 2012 said it like this: The enemy, the tobacco industry, has changed its face and its tactics. The wolf is no longer in sheep s clothing, and its teeth are bared. I wish Cambodia the very best in the fight against tobacco. Thank you.