Dear HIFA colleagues,
"Imagine a world where every child, every citizen, every health worker and every policymaker truly understood the devastating health, economic, social and environmental impact of tobacco." This is how we started our deep-dive discussion on Tobacco. Following this rich discussion, it's clear to me that we are a long way from realising such a world, but perhaps we are a little bit clearer about what needs to be done, and how?
The full compilation of our global conversation on Tobacco (27 February - 3 April 2023) is now available on the HIFA website for your review:
https://www.hifa.org/sites/default/files/publications_pdf/HIFA-Tobacco-C...
We addressed the following questions (and more):
1. Do people understand the health, socio-economic and environmental harms of using tobacco products? What matters to them? How can they be better informed?
2. Do health workers have adequate knowledge to prevent and treat tobacco addiction among their patients? What matters to them? How can they be better informed?
3. What is the role of the tobacco industry? What can be done to address misinformation from the tobacco industry?
4. Do public health professionals and policymakers have adequate knowledge to prevent and treat tobacco addiction in their country? What are current national policies and what more can be done to fully implement those policies?
5. What are the pros and cons of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS; vaping) (eg as an aid to stop smoking; as an addictive alternative to smoking among young people)?
I would like to thank all contributors for sharing their experience and expertise, and all members of the HIFA Tobacco working group for their help in planning and facilitating the discussion. Thanks also to support from NextGenU.org and the Ulrich and Ruth Frank Foundation for International Health.
We shall now prepare a structured summary to identify lessons learned and steps needed to help ensure every person is adequately informed about tobacco.
Our work with NextGenU.org continues through to September 2023. Your further contributions on information and learning needs relating to tobacco (and alcohol and opiates) are encouraged and will be integrated.
For background, please see: https://www.hifa.org/news/hifa-launches-deep-dive-discussion-tobacco-27-...
Best wishes, Neil
Coordinator, HIFA project on Substance use disorders
https://www.hifa.org/projects/mental-health-meeting-information-needs-su...
HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of HIFA (Healthcare Information For All), a global health community that brings all stakeholders together around the shared goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information. HIFA has 20,000 members in 180 countries, interacting in four languages and representing all parts of the global evidence ecosystem. HIFA is administered by Global Healthcare Information Network, a UK-based nonprofit in official relations with the World Health Organization. Email: neil@hifa.org