WHO: Step up efforts against smoking

MANILA, Philippines — The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged its member countries in the Western Pacific region, including the Philippines, to step up its efforts against smoking, especially with the emergence of e-cigarettes and other heated tobacco products that are presenting “new challenges” to the region.

According to WHO Western Pacific regional director Dr. Takeshi Kasai, there are still five persons who die every minute from tobacco-related illnesses in the region.

“We need to expedite efforts to reduce tobacco smoking,” said Kasai, who noted that a third of all cigarettes smoked in the world are from the Western Pacific. —Jovic Yee