Global Health Policy Issues: Smoking Homework Help

Global Health Policy Issues: Smoking

The World Health Organization’s Tobacco Free Initiative (TFI) is a tobacco control framework of policies that are part of the noncommunicable diseases and mental cluster at the World Health Organization’s headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Studies indicate that tobacco use has serious health effects other than the economic and environmental effects associated with it. For instance, it is estimated for instance that tobacco use is the second cause of deaths globally. Under the TFI, the WHO has established regional offices in various parts of the globe, with tobacco control advisers charged with the responsibility of drawing the global attention to the negative effects and risks associated with tobacco and smoking (WHO, 2011,”Tobacco Free Initiative (TFI)”). It is for this reason that the WHO set aside 31st May of every year to celebrate “World No Tobacco Day”; an event that began way back in 1987. This paper discusses the WHO tobacco free initiative and outlines the importance of global tobacco control as a global health policy.
2.0 Discussion
2.1 WHO Global Tobacco Control Policy in Perspective
The WHO underscores the dangers associated with tobacco and because of this; the WHO introduced Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The Tobacco Free Initiative (FTI) was designed to provide an opportunity to promote adherence to the FCTC through highlighting specific tobacco control messages to emphasize on the global tobacco epidemic and its fatal consequences (WHO, 2011,”Tobacco Free Initiative (TFI)”). Thus every 31st May, the WHO celebrates World No Tobacco Day to advocate for effective policy measures tailored towards reducing tobacco consumption across the globe. The WHO fact sheet highlights the great magnitude of the tobacco epidemic though they also note that the tobacco epidemic is preventable. For instance, World Health Organization reports that over 6 million lives are lost annually due to the tobacco scourge. Among the 6 million figure are an estimated 600 000 non-smokers who die due to exposure to tobacco smoke. The deaths arise from tobacco associated diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and asthma. The WHO estimates that if the tobacco epidemic is not effectively managed, the number of deaths may hit a staggering 8million by the year 2030.
The WHO has also found that the tobacco epidemic is largely affecting the developing world. It is noted that over 80% of the deaths caused by tobacco occur in the developing world (WHO, “Facts on the tobacco epidemic and global tobacco control”). The shifting trend is said to have been occasioned by a change in the marketing strategy by the global tobacco industry such that young people and adults in developing nations have become the main target market alongside the women segment that have been deemed a raw market to tap into since most women do not use tobacco currently. The WHO established that despite tobacco epidemic being preventable, only less than 10% of the global population is fully protected with any of major interventions policies available to reduce tobacco use. The WHO has in place six most effective policies dubbed “MPOWER” aimed to curb the tobacco epidemic. These are; “Monitoring tobacco use and prevention, Protecting people from tobacco smoke, offering help to quit tobacco use, Warning people about the dangers of tobacco, Enforcing bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, and Raising taxes on tobacco.”
The main objective of the WHO Tobacco Free Initiative is to minimize the global burden of tobacco linked diseases and deaths hence protect the present and future generations from the serious health, environmental, social and economic effects associated with tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke. The WHO thus has implemented the primary strategy that aims to promote international response to the tobacco epidemic. The specific objective measures include enhancing global policy leadership, promoting the WHO framework convention on tobacco control, encouraging mobilization across society, advocating for and encouraging adherence to its principles by various countries, and mobilizing for support of the implementation of tobacco control initiatives based on the WHO provisions and guidelines.
The WHO deliberately established the World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) as a means to create and deliver a more unified global message regarding the negative effects of tobacco use. Therefore the WHO sets a theme for each year’s WNTD, which in turn forms the basis for the following year’s WHO’s tobacco-related agenda. Publicity materials for the WNTD which include posters, fliers, brochures, press releases, and websites are usually distributed under supervision and direction of the WHO (WHO, 2003,”TFI Treaty for Tobacco Control”). It is worth noting that Youtube videos were created for the 2008 WNTD campaign whose theme was “Tobacco Free Youth.” In the year 2009, podcasts were used for the first time in these campaigns. The WHO emphasizes on creating themes that portray the “naked truth” regarding tobacco effects so that the people should not be misled or confused about the facts. For example, the theme titles for WNTD2000 and 2006 were “Tobacco kills, don’t be duped” and “Tobacco: deadly in any form or disguise” respectively. The WHO understands that the marketing strategies and illusionary messages used by the tobacco industries usually confuse people hence the need for the WHO’s WNTD materials that are designed and suitably packaged to provide an alternate understanding of the facts. Furthermore, the WHO’s materials for WNTD are intended to give an “official” interpretation of the latest research and statistics related to tobacco so as to establish a common ground from which to build anti-tobacco arguments globally.
2.2 Why Global Tobacco Control is an Important Global Health Policy
Global tobacco control is a very important global health policy for because it provides the framework upon which the global community can effectively deal with and reduce tobacco-related effects including health, social, environmental and economic tobacco effects. In the foregoing sections, negative health effects of tobacco use have been highlighted briefly. It has been pointed out that tobacco not only affects the smokers, but also a big number of non-smokers who are exposed to tobacco smoke. This alone means that everyone is at risk and no-one is really safe in the smoking environment. This confirms the importance of a global tobacco control agenda. If tobacco use goes unchecked, more and more people are at risk of losing their lives (WHO, 2011,”Global Tobacco Epidemic”). The WHO estimates that 8 million people are at risk of loosing their lives annually by 2030 if tobacco consumption is not controlled. This is quite alarming. Due to pollution by tobacco, the environment itself is not safe hence more lives are at risk each day that passes by with unchecked tobacco consumption. To underline the real global danger, this paper highlights the tobacco effects (health, social, environmental and economic) in the next section.
2.3 Health Effects of Tobacco
Having mentioned in general the alarming death statistics as a major health impact of tobacco, it is important to get to the root cause of tobacco-related deaths. First, tobacco contains nicotine as one of its ingredients. Nicotine is a psychoactive addictive drug that generates dependence syndrome on the part of the user the same way cocaine and heroine does. Furthermore, tobacco products have ability to cause serious developmental and reproductive health problems because they contain toxic substances including more than 50 carcinogen compounds (WHO, 2011,”Guidelines for implementation of the WHO FCTC”). A number of chronic diseases such as cancer, stroke, heart, lung and respiratory diseases are associated with tobacco smoke.
2.4 Environmental effects of tobacco
Tobacco production puts a strain on the environment because environmental resources are used in the process. This limits the resources available for food production. The wood resources need for tobacco curing leaves the environment exposed to environmental degradation agents such as soil erosion alongside interfering with the rain cycle hence trigger drought and related effects (Johns Hopkins, “Institute for Global Tobacco Control”). This lives the world’s population in danger.
2.5 Economic Impacts of Tobacco
Tobacco-related health and environmental effects generate economic problems across the global community. Individuals, families and the governments have an added burden to spend more on medication and health care provision for those affected by tobacco consumption (Johns Hopkins, “Institute for Global Tobacco Control”). Economic growth and productivity is generally affected due to poor health and absenteeism of affected workers.
2.6 Social Effects of Tobacco
When governments allow promotion of addictive tobacco products which promote images of independence, sex appeal and glamour, the women and young generation in society get the wrong message that tobacco is acceptable and associate tobacco use with the western lifestyles (Johns Hopkins, “Institute for Global Tobacco Control”). For instance, it has been common to find famous movie actors smoking in the films. As a way of marketing, tobacco industries have engaged themselves actively in sports sponsorships as well. As a result, children start identifying with and using tobacco as an adventure and a step into gaining autonomy. The future generation is left unprotected from the devastating effects of tobacco use.
3.0 Summary
The WHO Tobacco Free Initiative provides an opportunity for the world community to highlight the devastating tobacco use effects and effective principles through which these effects can be minimized. With alarming statistical facts regarding tobacco related deaths across the globe, a global tobacco control policy is indispensable if the world populations and economies have to survive the consequences. This is especially because of the serious health, social, environmental and economic effects of tobacco highlighted in the previous section. The World No Tobacco Day was an important initiative towards enhancing focus and forging a united front towards fighting the tobacco epidemic. It is important for the WHO member countries to fully cooperate with and support the WHO principles aimed at reducing the lethal tobacco effects globally. This informs the special importance of the global tobacco control as a global health policy. Considering the scope of tobacco effects, World Health Organization principles should be supported and implemented right from individual level, family level, all the way to national and international levels including non-governmental organizations as well.
4.0 Recommendations
In view of the facts relating to the tobacco epidemic, I fully support the WHO initiatives which provide for global tobacco control. The global community has a duty to conserve the environment and protect the welfare of the current and future populations from the devastating dangers of tobacco. There is need to emphasize on tobacco control measures especially for the developing nations where 80% of tobacco related deaths occur. Such measures should include anti-tobacco strategies such as enacting and implementing tobacco control legislation, health education and pricing policies (WHO, 2003,”WHO TFI Treaty for Tobacco Control”). It is important that both the countries and tobacco industries recognize the magnitude of risk involved in tobacco use hence support the WHO tobacco control initiatives and principles. This is in view of the fact that tobacco is harmful to the environment hence endangering the lives of both the smokers and non-smokers alike. No one is safe. We all need to change. But change, must begin with the individual.

5.0 References
Johns Hopkins (n.d). Institute for Global Tobacco Control. Retrieved on 20th November 2011 from: http://www.jhsph.edu/global_tobacco/
World Health organization (2003).WHO TFI Treaty for Tobacco Control. Retrieved on 20th November 2011 from: http://www.who.int/features/2003/08/en/index.html
World Health Organization, (2011). Global Tobacco Epidemic. Retrieved on 20th November 2011 from: http://www.who.int/tobacco/mpower/en/index.html.
World Health Organization, (2011). Tobacco Free Initiative (TFI). Retrieved on 20th November 2011 from: http://www.who.int/tobacco/en/.
World Health organization (2011).Guidelines for implementation of the WHO FCTC. Retrieved on 20th November 2011 from: http://www.who.int/fctc/en/index.html
World Health Organization (n.d). Facts on the tobacco epidemic and global tobacco control. Retrieved on 20th November 2011 from: http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/tobacco_epidemic/tobacco_epidemic_facts/en/index1.html