Harm reduction isama sa WHO tobacco convention – eksperto
MANILA, Philippines — Nananawagan ang mga eksperto mula sa Pilipinas at iba’t ibang bansa sa World Health Organization (WHO) na kilalanin ang harm reduction na maging bahagi ng kanilang pandaigdigang polisiya sa tobacco control.
Sa isang pagpupulong na inorganisa ng Consumer Choice Center (CCC) noong Setyembre 3, 2025 sa Makati City, inihayag nila ang kanilang panawagan sa WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) na “fully integrate harm reduction into tobacco control.”
“The evidence is clear: combustion kills, not nicotine. Safer alternatives exist and are effective. This is the time to stand with science and evidence,” ayon sa kanilang pahayag.
Ayon kay Fred Roeder ng CCC, “Many countries have seen different results with harm reduction approaches, yet these strategies remain largely unexplored in Southeast Asian policy discussions.”
Idiniin naman ni Anton Israel ng Nicotine Consumers Union of the Philippines (NCUP) na madalas hindi pinapansin ang mga gumagamit ng nikotina. Aniya, “Nicotine consumers are not the enemy. We need honest education that reaches the grassroots so smokers understand that less harmful alternatives exist.”
Sa India naman, tinukoy ni Dr. Rohan Savio Sequeira na maaaring iligtas ang 35 milyong buhay sa loob ng tatlong dekada kung magpapatupad ng harm reduction policy.
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