Morocco's Battle Against Tobacco: Health Ministry's Renewed Efforts
In a recent address, Morocco's Minister of Health and Social Protection, Khalid Ait Taleb, revealed that smoking accounts for 8% of all deaths in the country. This alarming statistic underscores the ongoing public health challenge posed by tobacco use.
The data stems from the Global Tobacco Surveillance System, which highlights the impact of smoking and the hurdles in combating it. Notably, there has been a decline in smoking rates among young students, ages 13 to 15, from 9% in 2010 to 6% in 2017. Similarly, adult smoking rates decreased from 16% in 2008 to 13.4% in 2017.
Despite these positive trends, the issue remains pressing, particularly among men, with 23.4% identified as smokers, compared to just 0.3% of women, according to the 2018 National Survey on Risk Factors for Non-Communicable Diseases.
Minister Ait Taleb stressed that smoking is a global epidemic and a leading preventable cause of death, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, which account for over 80% of tobacco-related fatalities.
In Morocco, smoking is responsible for 75% of lung cancer deaths and 10% of deaths from respiratory diseases. The rising popularity of shisha smoking adds further health risks to the population.
The government is actively addressing these concerns through its National Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (2019-2029) and the National Cancer Control Plan (2020-2029). These initiatives include public awareness campaigns, the creation of tobacco-free zones in public spaces, and the integration of smoking cessation services into healthcare facilities.
Legal efforts are also being reinforced. Although a 1995 law bans smoking in public places and tobacco advertising, its enforcement has been lacking due to absent regulations. Minister Ait Taleb announced plans to revise this law and introduce necessary decrees as part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce tobacco use in Morocco.