The Global Public Health Issue - 2091 Words

1. Background information 1.1 The outline of the global public health issue Cigarette smoking has been well documented to cause a wide range of health conditions such as heart diseases and respiratory problems and it is a major risk factor for getting various kind of cancers (Simpson Nonnemaker, 2013). Besides illness and death, there are several research evidences presenting that cigarette smoking results in less productive life years and for mounting needless health care costs. Globally, the preventable deaths caused by tobacco smoking accounts for over 5 million deaths yearly (Wilson et al., 2012). Currently, there are over 1 billion smokers in the world and over 80% of these smokers are living in low and middle income countries†¦show more content†¦Since then, countries around the world has taken a wide range of initiatives and programs at national and state level such as tax and price measures, banning advertisement, promotion and sponsorship, educational efforts and providing cessation assistance in line with the WHO FCTC (Weishaar et al., 20 12). These policies are have resulted in significant reductions in the prevalence of smoking besides decreasing death, diseases and effect of health care cost towards economies caused by tobacco use. 1.2 The outline of the national issue Bhutan was among the first 40 countries that ratified WHO FCTC. The ratification of WHO FCTC in August 2004 by the National Assembly of Bhutan was a momentous event for tobacco control nationally and globally. But the National Assembly not only ratified the FCTC; it believed that a stronger stance must be taken on tobacco control. They issued a ban on the sale of tobacco products that became effective from 17 December 2004. In so doing, Bhutan went beyond the obligations outlined under the FCTC. Bhutan became the first and, thus far, the only country to have ever embarked on such a course of action. The FCTC requires member states to fulfill a number of obligations including periodic reporting of the implementation of measures adopted. Bhutan is among the nine member states in WHO South-East Asia Region that have developed and engaged in implementing comprehensive tobacco control policies,