ILOILO City – In Western Visayas, 20.2% of the adult population, totaling 117,718 individuals, were reported as tobacco users, according to the Department of Health (DOH). This rate is slightly above the national prevalence of 18 to 19 percent.
“This data is significant even though it only represents those who visited health centers. It indicates a persistent and recurrent smoking problem in Region 6,” said John Richard Lapascua, Nurse V at DOH-6, in a statement to Panay News.
Health authorities urge vigilance among parents and youths to combat the persistent smoking issue in the region, particularly as the World No Tobacco Day approaches on May 31 with this year’s theme focusing on “Protecting Children from Tobacco Industry Interference.”
Smoking, both from lighted cigarettes and electronic devices, introduces over 7,000 chemical components into the body, many of which are carcinogenic, said Lapascua.
“The chemicals and particles from tobacco affect the person down to the DNA level, potentially causing cancer in any part of the body,” he explained.
Lapascua emphasized the role of parents and law enforcers in protecting children from smoking, describing children as “replacement smokers” for the tobacco industry.
The term “replacement smokers” refers to the strategy where the tobacco industry targets young people to replace older smokers who quit or die, thereby ensuring a continuous market for their products.
“We need to set an example for our children so that they can live a smoke-free and healthy life,” said Lapascua.
The top 10 diseases driving consultations at health facilities in the region, such as upper respiratory infections, hypertension, pneumonia, acute respiratory infections, and exacerbated tuberculosis, are predominantly linked to tobacco use, revealed Lapascua.
He highlighted the increased risk for smokers: “Smokers are five times more at risk of heart attack and twice as likely to suffer a stroke, especially if they are already hypertensive.”
DOH-6 encourages smokers to visit one of the 18 operational smoking cessation centers in the region, which are equipped with trained health workers and necessary facilities to aid in tobacco cessation.
These centers offer free consultations and have been established across several provinces including Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental.
Lapascua clarified the criteria for considering someone as smoke-free.
“Only those who have stopped smoking for more than a year can be considered smoke-free. Non-smokers are those who have never smoked or those who have smoked but quit for more than one year,” he said.
Furthermore, 72% of local government units in the region (94 out of 133) have passed anti-smoking ordinances, and efforts continue to enhance these regulations and increase their number, said Lapascua.
He also stressed that the campaign includes electronic cigarettes, which remain unregulated by the Food and Drug Administration, thus not considered safe for consumption.
As part of the World No Tobacco Day activities, the DOH-6 has begun planning with Provincial Coordinators to support more local government units in passing more comprehensive anti-smoking ordinances.
Additional funding has been allocated to local government units to develop information and education campaigns aimed at promoting smoking cessation./PN
