REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) effectively protects the world's population from the ill effects of tobacco and smoke, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated.

WHO's Regional Director for Southeast Asia Poonam Khetrapal Singh, in a statement received by Antara here on Friday, said the latest WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic noted that 63 percent of the world's population is now protected by at least one comprehensive tobacco control effort in accordance with the FCTC.

The successful efforts made in accordance with the FCTC are pictorial warnings on cigarette packs and ban on cigarette advertisements, among others. 

The WHO report shows that in Southeast Asia, tobacco kills about 1.3 million people every year.

In 2015, Nepal had made it mandatory for 90 percent of the cigarette packaging to carry a health warning image. Meanwhile, India had launched a nationwide smoking cessation campaign in 2016 complete with free telephone relief services and improved pictorial health warnings to cover 85 percent of the cigarette pack.

"Such progress helps to drive regional progress," Singh said, adding that all countries in the WHO's Southeast Asian region now have laws and regulations in place on displaying warnings on tobacco packaging.

"Nine out of the 11 countries now require cigarette packs to have a pictorial warning. All countries are now working on cigarette advertising, promotion, and sponsorship, and some countries have done well," Singh noted.

The Southeast Asian countries have also adopted and implemented six strategies to support the implementation of WHO's tobacco control framework and have also launched further initiatives, such as finding alternative ways for tobacco plantations.

Singh asserted that reducing tobacco consumption is the key to improving health and development throughout Southeast Asia and also in the world.

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