Health Minister among 3 Malaysians honoured with WHO's World No Tobacco Day award
KUALA LUMPUR: Three Malaysians have been honoured with the World Health Organisation's (WHO) 'World No Tobacco Day Award' during the opening session of the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, yesterday.
The recipients are Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad; the ministry's Disease Control Division deputy director Dr Noraryana Hassan; and the Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control (MCTC) president Associate Professor Dr Murallitharan Munisamy.
MCTC secretary-general Muhammad Sha'ani Abdullah, in a statement, said the award was presented by WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in conjunction with World No Tobacco Day, observed annually on May 31.
"This annual global award recognises the contributions of individuals, organisations, and government agencies worldwide in advancing tobacco control efforts. It is the first time the award has been presented to recipients from Malaysia.
"This award acknowledges their roles in the development and implementation of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024, an initiative pursued since Malaysia ratified the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in 2005," he said.
Dzulkefly, in the same statement, described the award as a victory for all Malaysians and a testament to the nation's commitment to protecting current and future generations from the harmful effects of tobacco and vaping products.
"Bringing this law through Parliament required us to overcome numerous legal, economic, and social challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic and several changes of government. Although the law has been passed, our tobacco control efforts remain ongoing and are being further strengthened, especially in light of emerging issues such as the recent concerns surrounding vaping," he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Noraryana said the award reflects the collective efforts and spirit of teamwork among the ministry, government agencies, and the public, especially civil society organisations.
"We have successfully got this law passed, which is a significant achievement. However, our work is far from over. The real challenge lies in implementing and enforcing it to ensure it makes a meaningful impact on public health," she said.
Dr Murallitharan, meanwhile, emphasised the vital role of civil society in shaping health policy and described the award as a testament to the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders.
"MCTC, for example, unites health professional organisations like the Malaysian Medical Association, community groups, and academic institutions to advance the nation's health. This recognition belongs to all contributors - past, present, and future," he said.
The 78th World Health Assembly, held in Geneva from May 19 to 27, themed 'One World for Health,' is the WHO's highest decision-making body. It brings together representatives from 193 member states. Malaysia is expected to present several interventions, including one on the integrated lung health resolution.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Barnama
2 hours ago
- Barnama
Queen Visits Hospis Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR, June 5 (Bernama) -- Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, today visited Hospis Malaysia, a charitable organisation that provides palliative care to patients suffering from chronic illnesses, such as cancer and kidney problems. The visit was a specially arranged event in conjunction with the official birthday of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia. During the visit, Raja Zarith Sofiah spent more than two hours meeting patients receiving treatment at the centre, in addition to donating RM30,000 to Hospis Malaysia. Also present were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is Bandar Tun Razak Member of Parliament, Deputy Minister of Health Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni, Health Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Suriani Ahmad and Hospis Malaysia chief executive officer Ednin Hamzah. Meanwhile, in her speech, Raja Zarith Sofiah said that she decided to visit Hospis Malaysia because she felt that there were still many Malaysians not aware of the importance of palliative care for family members. 'Hospis Malaysia can help provide palliative care, which is supportive care for patients with chronic illnesses. 'The responsibility of doctors and nurses at Hospis Malaysia is to provide advice and support to patients and their families, such as visiting and treating patients at home and to ease the patient's pain with effective medications,' said Her Majesty. Raja Zarith Sofiah said she became aware of palliative care since the late 1990s when the Johor Bahru Rotary Club often organised visits to homes of chronic patients, prompting Her Majesty to also become a volunteer and visit the patients at their homes. "Whenever there are seminars on palliative care, I will attend those seminars, and that was when I met Dr Ednin and palliative specialists from other countries," said Her Majesty.
The Star
6 hours ago
- The Star
Number of vape poisoning among youth up
GEORGE TOWN: A total of 76 poisoning cases linked to exposure to vapes suspected of containing prohibited substances were referred to the National Poison Centre (PRN) at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) through the Poison Information Service from 2020 to last year. PRN senior pharmacist Mohd Fadhli Razali said the statistics show a sharp increase, with a significant spike starting in 2022, when 65% or 17 cases were recorded out of the total vape exposure cases referred that year. 'These cases have risen annually, with 79% (27 cases) in 2023 and 68% (26 cases) in 2024. 'The majority, 81%, of vapes involved claimed to be magic mushroom vapes. 'Most cases involved teenagers aged 15 to 19 years (41%) and early adults aged 20 years (53%), indicating a growing trend among the younger generation,' he said in a statement yesterday, reported Bernama. He said these findings highlight the urgent need for the government to take immediate action to prevent more young people from falling victim to addiction, particularly to new types of drugs like synthetic cannabinoids (lab-made substances that are chemically similar to chemicals found in the cannabis plant) detected in vape liquids. Mohd Fadhli said most affected individuals experience symptoms such as seizures, fainting and vomiting, as well as issues like hallucinations, delusions, and behavioural changes, including aggression. More alarmingly, many cases show severe poisoning symptoms even after just one or two puffs, posing risks to themselves and those around them, Mohd Fadhli added. He said PRN's analysis of several vape liquid samples, claimed to contain magic mushrooms, revealed they actually contained synthetic drugs capable of causing severe, potentially fatal poisoning. 'This shows how easily vapes can be manipulated. Strict controls are necessary to prevent the abuse of dangerous drugs in society. Teenagers are the primary targets for these products due to easy access through online platforms, which are difficult to regulate,' he said. He stressed that the rising number of vape-related poisoning cases underscores the need for immediate enforcement of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852) and support at the state level.
The Star
10 hours ago
- The Star
‘Save the lives of children'
Business as usual: A vape shop operator checking on vape products displayed on the rack. — AZMAN GHANI/The Star KLANG: The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) has appealed to Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah to ban the sale of vape products in the state. In a statement issued yesterday, its education officer N. V. Subbarow pleaded with the Ruler to 'save the lives of children'. 'CAP is urging His Highness to help prevent children from becoming involved in the dangers of vaping,'' he said. He added that vapes contain poison and drugs. Subbarow issued the appeal after Selangor allegedly failed to take a firm stand on the banning of the sale of vapes and electronic cigarettes. Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said on Tuesday that discussions were still ongoing with stakeholders, including vape business owners, before any decision is made. He added that the state government is also working on guidelines to implement the proposed ban without leaving any loopholes. This follows earlier reports suggesting that Selangor may follow in the footsteps of Johor and Terengganu, which have banned the sale of vapes and electronic cigarettes. According to CAP, the Selangor government's current position could endanger youths and schoolchildren. 'Our talks in Selangor schools have shown that more students are becoming addicted to vaping, which contains nicotine and harmful drugs. 'Many teachers are complaining that students' behaviours have changed due to their vaping habits,'' he added. He said it was alarming to learn that many girls were also being drawn into the vaping trend. Subbarow claimed that the Selangor government appeared more concerned about the impact a ban could have on vape businesses and their workers. He said the youth's health should come before the vape industry's interests. He said vape products must be banned immediately to stop them from continuing to destroy young lives. 'We do not want our children to become drug addicts and face a bleak future,' he said. 'His Royal Highness the Sultan of Selangor must take immediate action to safeguard the youth, ensuring they have the opportunity for a healthy and active future,' he added. In April, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad had said that state governments have the authority to ban the sale of vape or e-cigarattes, through local councils. He explained that states are empowered by local regulations to control the sale of such devices within their jurisdiction, adding that there were instances where states had withheld licences from vape traders At the Federal level, the sale of vape products is governed under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), which came into force in phases beginning Oct 1 last year.
