Cambodia’s Health Minister Received WHO FCTC Award

By Sok Lak

Every year, the WHO recognizes individuals or organizations in each of the six WHO regions for their accomplishments in the area of tobacco control. This recognition takes the form of the Director-General's Special Recognition Award and the World No Tobacco Day Award. This year, Cambodian Minister of Ministry of Health, H.E Man Bun Heng was given a major award on May 31 by the World Health Organization (WHO) for his achievement in tobacco control in Cambodia.

H.E Man Bun Heng received the trophy, WHO Western Pacific Region Awards, from Dr. Pieter Van Maaren, WHO Representative and represent of Dr. Shin Young-Soo, the Regional Director for WHO’s Western Pacific, at the “World No Tobacco Day 2011, Regional Launching and Award Ceremony”

Dr. Pieter said that in the past years, Dr. Mam Bun Heng has provided important leadership, guidance and support for Tobacco Control in Cambodia. “Under his leadership, Cambodia ratified the WHO FCTC on 15 November 2005.”

He added that the important milestones in the implementation of the FCTC are the printing of health warnings on cigarette packs, and the ban on advertising of tobacco products, which will take effect from August 2011.

H.E Mam Bun Heng said that this achievement is only from me, but the Cambodian Government all level and related institutions with participate of all citizens in Cambodia. The understanding of citizens on the effect of tobacco lead them change their behavior. It is aggregate achievement in Cambodia”

According to data from National Institution of Statistics, the number of using tobacco decrees 5.68% from 48.98% to 43.3% for man and decrease 2.9% from 20.3% to 17.2% for women among above 18 aged adult in 2005 to 2010.    

The WHO declared May 31 as World No Tobacco Day with the aim of raising awareness among people around the world of the harmful effects of tobacco use and promoting a healthy lifestyle.

This year, another WHO Western Pacific Region Awards were given to Dr Ly Ngoc Kinh, Senior Consultant and Former Director and Standing Office of Viet Nam Steering Committee on Smoking and Health of Viet Nam Ministry of Health and

Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines of the Republic of Philippines

The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control is the theme of this year's World No Tobacco Day. The Framework is the first treaty negotiated under the auspices of the WHO, and provides new legal dimensions for international co-operation in tobacco control.

Since 1989, World No Tobacco Day has been observed around the world every year on May 31. It is meant to encourage a 24-hour period of abstinence from all forms of tobacco consumption across the globe.

Source: The Southeast Asia Weekly, June 5-11, 2011, Vol. 5, Issue 23, Page 3