SE Asia declares war against tobacco
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The 55th Session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Southeast Asia here concluded on Friday with a united call for curbs on the advertising of tobacco, and unhealthy foods and lifestyles.
The session also suggested an intersectoral ministerial meeting to further discuss these problems.
The call to arms over the dangers of tobacco use, and unhealthy foods and lifestyles, was only one of many notes that resulted from the five-day session.
The World Bank's Watching Brief May 2002 says that 6.6 percent of the world total of 1.1 billion smokers are Indonesians, making the country the fourth biggest tobacco consumer on earth after the United States, China and Japan.
The regional committee also recognized the need for effective management of healthcare decentralization.
It urged member states to ensure equity in access to quality, efficient healthcare while implementing national decentralization policies, strategies and plans.
The committee noted that accessibility to essential medicines for all citizens in the region would require the commitment of member states to introducing the necessary regulations and taking appropriate action.
It urged member states to strengthen national mechanisms for the use of essential medicine lists and to use prequalification processes in drug procurement systems to ensure quality.
It requested WHO to provide technical assistance to member countries to strengthen their drug regulatory authorities, and to facilitate the development of regional bulk purchase schemes.
On the one hand, the committee commended the technical support provided by WHO in obtaining resources from the global funds for AIDS, TB and malaria.
It sought priority for research to prevent the mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS, the development of vaccines and the local production of anti-retroviral drugs at affordable prices.
While noting the successful interregional collaboration in malaria control in the Mekong basin area, the committee called for similar collaboration in HIV/AIDS prevention and control.
While appreciating WHO's support for rapid responses to health emergencies, the committee noted that national disaster preparedness and emergency programs needed to be further developed and strengthened.
The committee welcomed the Director General's proposal to limit the reduction of the regular budget for the Southeast Asia region to 2 percent for 2004-2005 as compared to the 2002-2003 period.