PHNOM PENH, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Minister of Health Chheang Ra said here on Monday that the kingdom is drawing up a new strategy for 2027-2031, aiming at reducing the consumption of tobacco products by 30 percent by 2030.
Speaking at a meeting on tobacco product control, the minister said the control of tobacco products was crucial to protect people's lives and future, as the Southeast Asian country currently has about 1.6 million tobacco users.
"Reducing smoking will help protect children, youth, women, and the whole population from cancer, heart disease, respiratory disease, and other non-communicable diseases," he said.
Chheang Ra said it is essential to enforce the law on tobacco product control, banning advertising, publishing health warnings, and prohibiting smoking in public places.
It is also vital to educate people about the hazardous impact of smoking e-cigarettes, he added.
According to the World Health Organization, tobacco use leads to approximately 15,000 deaths each year in Cambodia, impacting families and communities and imposing an economic burden of around 663 million U.S. dollars annually. ■
