Indonesian experts from CoEHAR discussed support for THR policies in the country during an event dedicated to the results of the Lives Saved report.
The issue of smoking in Asian countries is a significant public health problem: according to the Lives Saved report, published last November and with contributions from CoEHAR members, Indonesia has the highest male smoking prevalence on earth.
Despite the government’s efforts to reduce the number of smoking-related deaths in the country—around 300,000 each year—the number of victims and those who continue to smoke remains too high.
This negative trend has led to the development of a fruitful collaboration between CoEHAR in Catania and Padjadjaran University in Bandung (Indonesia) through the Replica project.
A key figure in the Indonesian activities is Prof. Ronny Lesmana, professor at the Faculty of Medicine at the Padjadjaran University, who is already a partner in the Replica project and one of the leading voices in the Asian region.
Prof. Lesmana presented the results of the Lives Saved report, which he authored, during an event in Bandung, advocating for the need to continue exploring alternative strategies to effectively combat the smoking epidemic in the country. Among the proposed solutions to reduce smoking-related deaths is the adoption of harm reduction strategies.
“In fact, (harm reduction strategies) are nearly twice as effective as nicotine replacement therapy or the ongoing tobacco control efforts directed by the WHO at this time,” Prof. Lesmana stated.
This commitment has also received the approval of Dr. Siti Nadia Tarmizi, Director of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Ministry of Health.
