THE government will be moving to table and pass the anti-tobacco legislation soonest in keeping with its promise to shore up both the mental and physical health of the citizenry.Both the senior Minister and the Minister within the Ministry of Public Health yesterday gave their commitment to the safe passage of the bill, and made an early pitch for the legislation to be unanimously supported in the House.
The call came amid celebration of Wellness Week which is being observed under the theme “Smoking Kills: Pass the Tobacco Law for Healthy Parks and Healthy People.”

Wellness Week pays attention to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and has been successful in enabling local environments and promoting opportunities for healthy living in settings where people grow, play, learn and live.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), NCDs kill 38 million people each year, 28 million of the deaths occur in low-and middle-income countries and some 16 million happen before age 70.
Minister within the Ministry of Public Health Dr Karen Cummings, speaking at Caribbean Wellness Day and Wellness Week in the Americas 2015, told an audience of City students at the National Cultural Centre that when chronic diseases are considered, cardiovascular diseases account for most NCD deaths.
Some 17.5 million people die from cardiovascular diseases annually. Quoting the WHO, Dr Cumming highlighted that some 8.2 million succumb to cancer, 4 million to respiratory diseases, and 1.5 million to diabetes.
These four groups of diseases, she said, account for 82 per cent of all NCD deaths.
BURDEN
NCDs, the minister noted have caused significant economic burdens to countries, and are likely to evolve into a staggering burden over the next two decades.
“The burden of disease caused by NCDs and the macro stimulations have suggested a cumulative output loss of US$47 trillion over the next two decades. This loss represents 75 per cent of global GDP in 2010 (US$63 trillion). Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) alone costs US$24 billion annually in the Americas,” she told the lively Wellness Day forum.
Against this backdrop, Dr Cummings said that tobacco use, physical inactivity, the harmful use of alcohol and unhealthy diets all increase the risk of dying from an NCD.
“I am here to tell you that this Wellness Week should not be a talk shop, but should have the peoples of Guyana and by extension the peoples of the Americas to commit themselves to make the necessary adjustments by working on the modifiable risk factors by reducing tobacco use, embracing healthy lifestyles – reducing salt and sugar intake, cutting down on fried foods and utilising fruits and vegetables which Guyana has in abundance,” she said.
The theme of Caribbean Wellness Day highlights the importance of an environment free from tobacco smoke. Guyana was among the first set of countries to sign on to the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) – a treaty which was adopted by the 56th World Health Assembly on May 21, 2003.
LAGGING
“We have lagged behind, I have been advised that the final review of the legislation was conducted in preparation for tabling, hence Dr Norton and I will be working assiduously to get the tobacco control bill passed,” Dr Cummings said.
Senior Public Health Minister Dr George Norton praised the assistance of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) for working with the Ministry of Public Health to reduce NCDs in Guyana.
And on that note, he said the Administration remains committed to passing the anti-tobacco legislation which will make Guyana a healthier environment.
But, he was quick to point out that a healthier environment will call for attitudinal change and challenged politicians who are ‘walking chimneys’ to lead by example and quit smoking.
Former Cuban President Fidel Castro, Dr Norton pointed out, gave up ‘puffing’ on “the famous Cuban cigars” and it is no big deal for persons here to follow.
He told the young gathering that too many die young and they can be agents of change by (1) saying no to smoking and (2) respectfully talking friends and relatives out of smoking.
The senior Public Health Minister said the administration is committed to ensuring that all in Guyana enjoy good health and every school has access to playfields as he emphasised the need for a balance in learning.
Earlier, Deputy Chief Education Officer (Development) Doodmattie Singh commended the Wellness Day activity organised by PAHO and urged that it be taken to the other regions.
INVALUABLE
In an informative presentation, Singh said the event cannot be more relevant since the nation’s children are very special and are invaluable to the development of Guyana.
She appealed to them to stay away from tobacco and if their friends are smokers to find new friends.
Singh said the youth of today are the future of tomorrow and they have a responsibility to themselves, their parents, loved ones and humanity in ensuring their safety, pointing out that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation.
PAHO Country Representative Dr William Adu-Crow praised the move by government to pass the ant-tobacco legislation, noting that from a study done here, 21 per cent of children aged 13-15 smoke or had smoked. The Wellness Day event featured a lively play discouraging youths from smoking.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), tobacco use kills more than five million people per year. It is responsible for 1 in 10 adult deaths. Among the five greatest risk factors for mortality, it is the single most preventable cause of death.
It has reported that 11 per cent of deaths from ischaemic heart disease, the world’s leading killer, are attributable to tobacco use, and more than 70 per cent of deaths from lung, trachea and bronchus cancers are attributable to tobacco use.
If current patterns continue, tobacco use will kill more than 8 million people per year by 2030, the WHO said, noting that up to half of the world’s more than 1 billion smokers will die prematurely of a tobacco-related disease.
By Tajeram Mohabir