Smoking causes one death a day

One person dies in Malta every day from an illness that is directly related to tobacco, not to mention the damaging effects smoking has on other conditions such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease, Health Minister Louis Deguara said on World No Tobacco Day yesterday.

National Statistics Office figures showed that just over one in four adults in Malta smoked.

But while the number of male smokers was decreasing, women smokers, especially young ones, were on the rise. This was also due to image-consciousness and the theory that the more they smoked, the less they ate. Smoking was, therefore, being related to weight loss, Dr Deguara said, considering the trend among young women to be "very worrying".

Other studies showed that at the age of 11, the percentage of smokers was low but by 13 it was more established at 10-15 per cent. There were also indications that 55 per cent of 16-year-olds had smoked a cigarette at one point in their lives.

This year's theme is based on the role of health professionals in tobacco control and, in line with it, the Health Promotion Department has focused on training groups of pharmacists to offer advice on quitting and guide people on nicotine replacement therapies.

A coordinated action plan that involves healthcare professionals is an asset to the healthcare system and health professionals have an important role to play in the fight against the silent epidemic.

Studies have shown that through their brief counselling on the dangers of tobacco, people have reduced smoking, the department said, adding that through joint efforts, a higher percentage of the population can be reached. Until mid-June, the number of smoking cessation classes, organised by the Health Promotion Department, would have totalled 19, meaning that last year's record would definitely be broken, department director Mario Spiteri said.

In 2004, at the peak of the controversy on the smoking ban in public places, the number of classes, with about 20 people in each, had gone up to 25 from 10 the previous year.

The further increase this year is due to the awareness and services offered by the Health Promotion Department, the ripple effect of last year's smoke-free policy and a block increase in applications - 300 - as a result of the EU campaign Help - For a life without tobacco.

Carbon monoxide monitors have been donated to the main health centres by VJ Salamone to be used for smoking cessation programmes. The Smokerlyzer is considered to be an effective piece of equipment in that it immediately indicates the level of damage to the lungs.

The minister described the last year as "intense" for the Health Division due to the implementation of the legislation to prevent smoking in public places and, in so doing, protect the health of those frequenting them.

He said the enactment of the anti-smoking laws was no small feat, despite the fact that studies had shown that over 80 per cent of the population were in favour of the legislation.

Malta was the second country to introduce the legislation - an achievement that has been recognised internationally. In fact, Dr Deguara is due to receive the European Gold Award from the organisation Smoke Free Europe in Luxembourg this week.

Dr Deguara highlighted the need for enforcement and augured that this would increase. While restaurants were fully cooperating, there was much room for improvement in bars and nightclubs.

The fight against the use of tobacco in public places was not yet over and a change of culture was required, he said.