In a move geared towards convincing chronic tobacco
smokers and first timers to quit the practice or not start at all, the Ministry
of Health will shortly be rolling out its pictorial health warnings on
cigarette packages.
This is in response to an international call put out by the World Health Organisation, WHO.
Twelve countries have already joined the initiative.
According to WHO, tobacco kills approximately 5 million people every year worldwide and if left unchecked the epidemic could kill an estimated 8 million people by 2030, 80% projected to come from developing countries.
Under the new arrangement cigarette companies in CARICOM countries, such as Jamaica, will be mandated to place graphic health warnings on packages of tobacco products.
Over 15 different pictures including oral sores and nicotine stained teeth, will be rotated on the boxes locally to keep the images fresh in the minds of the populace.
Director of the Health Promotion and Protection Division in the Health Ministry, Dr. Eva Lewis-Fuller says the Ministry is hoping that by early next year all parties will be on board for the official launch.
Dr. Lewis-Fuller says however this depends on all CARICOM member states joining the initiative.
Still, she is not predicting any problems.
"The CARICOM Secretariat is in on this. As a country we had a meeting last year August where all the CARICOM countries came together in Jamaica to look at how to approach this matter," Dr. Lewis-Fuller said.
Dr. Lewis-Fuller says cigarette companies have attempted to thwart and delay the move, however they were given the opportunity to air their views.
However, the fight has petered-out as they have come to accept the inevitable.
"Naturally the comments have not been enthusiastically accepted of this initiative but I think its inevitability has dawned upon the industry and therefore with guarded acceptance and participation they have more or less given their acceptance," she said.
World No Tobacco Day will be observed on Sunday under the theme: "Tobacco Health Warnings Tell the Truth: Don't Ignore them".
This is in response to an international call put out by the World Health Organisation, WHO.
Twelve countries have already joined the initiative.
According to WHO, tobacco kills approximately 5 million people every year worldwide and if left unchecked the epidemic could kill an estimated 8 million people by 2030, 80% projected to come from developing countries.
Under the new arrangement cigarette companies in CARICOM countries, such as Jamaica, will be mandated to place graphic health warnings on packages of tobacco products.
Over 15 different pictures including oral sores and nicotine stained teeth, will be rotated on the boxes locally to keep the images fresh in the minds of the populace.
Director of the Health Promotion and Protection Division in the Health Ministry, Dr. Eva Lewis-Fuller says the Ministry is hoping that by early next year all parties will be on board for the official launch.
Dr. Lewis-Fuller says however this depends on all CARICOM member states joining the initiative.
Still, she is not predicting any problems.
"The CARICOM Secretariat is in on this. As a country we had a meeting last year August where all the CARICOM countries came together in Jamaica to look at how to approach this matter," Dr. Lewis-Fuller said.
Dr. Lewis-Fuller says cigarette companies have attempted to thwart and delay the move, however they were given the opportunity to air their views.
However, the fight has petered-out as they have come to accept the inevitable.
"Naturally the comments have not been enthusiastically accepted of this initiative but I think its inevitability has dawned upon the industry and therefore with guarded acceptance and participation they have more or less given their acceptance," she said.
World No Tobacco Day will be observed on Sunday under the theme: "Tobacco Health Warnings Tell the Truth: Don't Ignore them".
.jpg)
All feeds
