TOBACCO HARM REDUCTION Patrick Kuyokwa Harm Reduction HR

TOBACCO HARM REDUCTION Patrick Kuyokwa

Harm Reduction • HR is a range of public health policies and strategies (Regulations and Actions) designed to lessen the negative social and/or physical consequences associated with various human behaviors, both legal and illegal. • In most cases, this looks at providing safer forms of hazardous products or encouraging less risky behaviors rather than simply focusing on eradication of the products or behaviors.

Example HR : HIV /AIDS • Is sexual Abstinence the most practical method of preventing HIV transmission? • Safe Sex

Harm Reduction sits as an intersection of public health and Human Rights

Tobacco Harm Reduction: • Smoking tobacco results in the world’s deadliest preventable diseases, prematurely ending the lives of half of all smokers. • Over six million people die from a smoking-related diseases every year (More people die from smoking cigarettes than from malaria, HIV and tuberculosis combined) • c

Malawi • Every year in Malawi, more than 5700 of its people are killed by tobacco-caused diseases. • Sadly, more than 5000 children (10 -14 years old) and 70 7000 adults (15+ years old) continue to use tobacco each day. ” (Over 1 million people struggling with the habit of smoke. ”

SMOKERS RISK DISEASE AND PREMATURE DEATH Belief: Malawians should be informed of the health consequences, addictive nature and mortal threat posed by tobacco smoking and exposure to tobacco smoke (Secondhand Smoking) for informed public and personal health choices. Predicament: Most smokers say they want to stop smoking and many have tried; many find it hard to stop and many are unable or unwilling to give up nicotine.

Quit or Die is no longer the only option for those who cannot give up_ Harm Reduction Every death from tobacco is preventable and every country has the power to reduce the human and economic toll of the tobacco epidemic. “People die from cigarettes but smoke for Nicotine. ” THR therefore includes strategies and Policies on behavioral methods, Nicotine replacements therapies or usage of safer nicotine delivery systems.

SNP and Combustible Cigarettes

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