Health CEO appalled at smoking habits

Written by Cherelle Jackson
Thursday, 08 May 2008
The smoking habit of Samoans has appalled Tupuimatagi Palinitina Toelupe, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ministry of Health. “The number of Samoan smokers is increasing at alarming rates, 46% of Samoans smoke, this is huge,” Tupuimatagi told Newsline. According to the CEO, Samoa is in the prime status to be a target of tobacco company advertisements. “They like to target 3rd world countries, low income earners, the poor, the colour and the women, Samoa fits into a few of those,” Tupuimatagi said. Due to such sophisticated marketing techniques Tupuimatagi says Samoan people have fallen prey to the lure of the mighty tobacco. Currently the Ministry of Health is advocating for the passing of the Tobacco Control Bill 2008 which would signify a huge shift in the acceptance of certain smoking habits in Samoa. “This is a result of years of work,” Tupuimatagi said, “we are confident that people will understand. The sale of cigarettes, age restrictions on buyers, smoking areas and marketing are all considered in the bill. “If the legislation is realized it will kick start the reverse process on this issue, the least we can do is that,” Tupuimatagi said. In the last thirty years the number of Samoans taking up smoke has increased at a consistent number. In 2002 Smoking survey done in Samoa, two in every 5 adults between 25-64 years in Samoa were noted smokers. The survey which is current, to date indicates that 40.3% of the Samoan population do smoke. “This is a long term issue and in no way are we ambitious about the results, we hope the change in the legislation will prompt overall change,” Tupuimatagi said. In the soon to be published survey, the majority of smokers are male, which make up 57% of total smokers. “3 in every 5 males smoke compared to 22% which is 1 in every 5 females,” the survey stated. Approximately half the men, 49% smoke on a daily basis whereas 18% of women smoke on a daily basis. Once a smoker, the probability of being a daily smoker does not differ between sexes, the survey indicated. “Smoking prevalence and average age started smoking are no different across the Savaii and Upolu,” the survey said. According to the CEO it will be another 20 or 30 years before the results of legislative changes occure. “But it’s a start, and if we impose these changes now, we will see the results sooner,” Tupuimatagi said. Whilst the average starting age for male daily smokers hasn’t change significantly, women are starting to smoke at a younger age than before. Daily smokers’ 25-64 age group had smoked for an average of 18.4 years. These daily smokers of manufactured cigarettes smoke an average of 12 cigarettes a day. The Tobacco Control Bill is now in its second reading stages. Comments (2) Subscribe to this comment's feed Smoking: A Weapon of Mass Destruction. written by Eyeaye, May 08, 2008 This is an upleasant statistics for the Samoan smokers. These numbers unfortunately reflect the country's global status and the gullibility of its people. How much of the modern media in the country is used to comercalized the adverse effects of smoking? An anti smoking campaign must begin by discouraging our children from smoking the "lausului" and grandmas' "kapaa" at home. Is the nicotine patch available in Samoa to help those who are trying to quit? What over the counter medications are available to help the smokers? Is smoking education made available to our people? All I know is that writing about smoking and its bad efffects simply does not do any good. Samoa must aggressively fight against smoking. Nothing is more attractive than a cigarette smoke free country and the great smiles of its people. Samoans - males and females - are naturally beautiful people and they need not to be told what to do by the "Marlboro Man" and his horse. Health Concscious written by Non-Smoker in CA, USA, May 10, 2008 I've been to Samoa several times and I'm appalled at the amount of people I see with this bad habit. I think the legislation should start by not allowing stores to sell cigarettes individually. Currently, kids have access to cigarettes because they adults send them to the store to barter one cigarette for an empty soda bottle. I'd say sell the cigarette by the pack and not individually and that should discourage people from buying because it'd be out of their reach. There should be a ban on kids buying cigarettes for their parents and other adults. California has been leading the nation in becoming health conscious. Part of the law includes imposing a fine on stores that sell cigarettes to minors and banning smoking in public places such as restaurants, bars, and some public parks. Samoa should do the same thing because it's a very disgusting sight to see an old man doing his lauga with one hand holding his talking stick and the other hand holding a lit cigarette. They just have no self control and self discipline! Talofa e! Write comment Name Email Title Comment

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