Dr Jerip (centre) and other invited guests breaking ‘cigarettes’ at the launching ceremony of the state-level No Tobacco Day.
MIRI: Cigarette companies spend millions of dollars annually to reel in new smokers and boost the addiction of present smokers so that they do not give up smoking.
This was revealed by Assistant Minister of Public Health, Datuk Dr Jerip Susil in his address at the launching of the state-level No Tobacco Day 2014 at the civic centre here yesterday.
He said such information should be spread widely so that smokers can think wisely and know that they are being tricked by cigarette companies into becoming smokers.
“The thing that makes us sad and worried is that these smokers are adults and parents and their children become passive smokers due to being exposed to the cigarette smoke,” he said.
As part of the effort to reduce tobacco consumption, he said the government will maintain the high taxes on cigarettes, making them costly especially for children and teenagers.
He said a survey by World Bank and World Health Organisation (WHO) proves that the high price of cigarettes is one of the reasons for low demand among children.
“Based on this reason, Malaysia Health Ministry(KKM) in collaboration with other government agencies will continue to ensure the high prices of cigarettes, to limit it from the targeted group,” he pointed out.
He added that tobacco related diseases killed almost 6 million people annually including 600,000 non-smokers due to exposure to cigarette smoke.
“If we do not act now, this epidemic will kill more than 8 million people by year 2030. Over 80 per cent of the deaths involved people from low income nations,” he said.
According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) Malaysia conducted in 2011 Dr Jerip said 23.1 per cent or 4.7 million Malaysians are smokers.
He said the government spends billions of ringgit yearly to treat tobacco related diseases.
“A smoker or non-smoker suffering from tobacco related disease will have to spend RM42,287 a year for lung cancer, RM32,172 for chronic lungs diseases and RM21,172 for heart coronary disease.
“This is the cost at government hospitals and the price may be higher at private hospitals,” he disclosed.
He said the government and the community must collaborate to overcome the smoking problem.
“This is vital as WHO has declared tobacco as the number one killer of this era,” he pointed out.
Miri health officer Dr Faizul Mansor earlier said the event was the Ministry of Health’s effort to increase awareness about problems caused by smoking.
“This year’s theme, ‘Save Money, Stop Smoking! Save Lives’, is aimed at inviting smokers to kick the unhealthy habit.
“To achieve this objective, the Health Department have carried out various activities and stop-smoking campaigns,” he said.
Among activities at the event was free health screening including checking of blood pressure and body mass index (BMI).
Also present at the ceremony was Deputy Miri divisional health officer Dr Veronica Lugah.