Public Health Secretary Kevin Villagomez left Tuesday for Manila to attend the World Health Organization’s meeting with Western Pacific leaders on the issue of tobacco control.<\/p>\n
WHO invited Villagomez to share the local government’s campaign against the use of tobacco specifically in light of a new CNMI law which makes it difficult for minors on the island to purchase cigarettes in stores. A tobacco action plan in the Western Pacific Region is expected to be drawn up during the meeting.<\/p>\n
Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio signed a bill into law last January 1999 which increased the penalties on establishments selling tobacco products to minors. Businesses found violating Public Law 11-75 will be fined a maximum of $500 for second offense, suspension of license for third offense and revocation of license up to one year for fourth offense.<\/p>\n
While there has been a decline on the use of tobacco in many parts of the world, statistics show that it has been consistently increasing in the Western Pacific region.<\/p>\n
In the Northern Marianas, Villagomez said chewing of betel nut with cigarette has become a practice which has alarmed health officials as the Commonwealth Health Center discovered cases of oral cancer.<\/p>\n
“The alarming thing is that we have younger people now who are chewing betel nut with tobacco. Nicotine is addictive whether you chew it or smoke it, ” he said.<\/p>\n
Health officials have cautioned the local people against betel nut chewing, a tradition in the Western Pacific Region. “It is a tradition which we must examine. Maybe we should look at what substance is being added in chewing betel nut that is now claiming a lot of people’s lives,” said Villagomez.<\/p>\n
In its planned educational campaign on tobacco, Villagomez said the department will focus in carrying out programs for young people to keep them away from drugs and cigarette smoking.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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