Cambodia's capital's police and communes of officials have joined a campaign to prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes in June.- Phnom Penh Post/ANN
PHNOM PENH (Phnom Penh Post/ANN): The World Health Organisation (WHO) urgently calls for global action to limit the import, distribution and promotion of all e-cigarettes, including a social media ban.
Countries are urged to ban e-cigarette sales, enhance import restrictions and bolster inspections to support public health interventions. Additionally, strict laws, including tax increases, should be enforced on e-cigarette trade, sale, import, distribution and production.
The WHO said in a December 14 statement that combining these measures with tobacco controls can effectively the proliferation and use of e-cigarettes.
WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that e-cigarettes, with their potent nicotine content, pose severe health risks, potentially leading to issues like brain, heart, lung and cancer-related problems.
“I urge countries to strictly implement these measures to prevent e-cigarette targeting of children, curbing the rise in users and safeguarding citizens, especially the youth,” he said.
WHO Health Promotion Department director Ruediger Krech noted that in numerous countries, the concerning surge in e-cigarette use among youngsters surpasses that of adults.
“E-cigarettes target children via social media and social influencers, boasting numerous flavours. Some even feature cartoon characters and attractive designs, aiming to allure the next generation of consumers,” he said.
Mom Kong, executive director of NGO Cambodia Movement for Health (CMH), said the WHO guidelines serve as motivation for member states to intensify efforts in curbing e-cigarette use.
He noted Cambodia’s past participation in anti-e-cigarette initiatives, including bans on their distribution, import and use. However, challenges persist with perpetrators exploiting social media to entice young people with e-cigarettes.
“The ban’s limited implementation means ongoing e-cigarette use, particularly among children and young people, will significantly impact the nation’s human resources. Nicotine in e-cigarettes harms children’s brain and cognitive development,” he said.
Kong suggested that, alongside enforcing the ban, Cambodia should punish those importing, distributing and promoting e-cigarettes and to halt enticing advertisements. Such measures are necessary to prevent the profound impacts of e-cigarettes and nicotine.
Research from the Ministry of Health in 2022 indicated a decline in Cambodia’s smoking rate among adults, decreasing from 32 per cent in 2014 to 28 per cent in 2022. This represents a notable reduction over the eight-year period. - Phnom Penh Post/ANN
