• March 29, 2024

Tiny fall in smoking prevalence

 Tiny fall in smoking prevalence

An estimated five million Malaysians, or 22.8 percent of the population, are smokers, according a story in The New Straits Times citing a National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS).

Deputy health minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya was quoted as saying that 50 per cent of smokers were over 30 years of age; 40 percent were over 19 [but, presumably, under 30], while 10 percent are younger than 19.

Although the number of smokers had reduced by 0.3 of a percentage point from the 23.1 percent of 2011, the reduction was not sufficient and more efforts had to be taken to stop smoking.

Hilmi said that about 10,000 smokers joined smoking cessation programs conducted in 486 government clinics and hospitals every year, but that only about 22 percent were successful.

He was speaking at the Blue Ribbon Campaign Awards and Recognition ceremony. The campaign, introduced by the Malaysian Health Promotion Board, was aimed at recognizing individuals and organizations who have contributed to efforts to protect the public from the hazards of smoking.