Cancer Society moves to curb spread of tobacco

The TT Cancer Society  is lobbying public support to get the Government to ratify the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control — an international legal instrument that will circumscribe the global spread of tobacco and tobacco products. This is being done through advertisements in the print media this month. The Cancer Society is inviting members of the public to send in their names for a petition which will be sent to the Minister of Health, John Rahael. They are hoping to get at least 10,000 names.

Chairman of the cancer Society, Dr George Laquis, yesterday said only four countries have ratified the document which requires at least 40 for it to be binding. Without the Framework, “nothing will change,” he said. Tobacco companies are using “very subtle” means to get their message across. Laquis said when they sponsor sporting events they are promoting their products by “association” with healthy people, and by supporting campaigns for smokers to quit “all they are doing is getting their name in front of you in another way.” He said ratifying the Framework will restrict tobacco companies from using billboards, giveaways, and sponsorship of sporting events to promote their products.

Laquis said tobacco kills and if companies are in a business where they are killing off their customers, then they need to find new ones. He said they have no choice but to market to young people. Although many countries have clamped down on this kind of marketing, he said companies in countries without laws will continue to do so. “Tobacco use has decreased in the first world and is increasing in the developing world,” Laquis said. The Elizabeth Quamina Cancer Registry has recorded 7,834 new cases of cancer and 4,426 deaths between 1995-1999. Almost half of all cancers were in persons 16-64 years.