2023-05-29 00:00:32
- The doctor who received this recognition from the WHO for 20 years has been the head of the Department of Tobacco Control and Prevention of the National Institute of Public Health.
- One of his main contributions was participating in the Tobacco Control Monitoring and Surveillance System in Mexico.
- According to statistics, each cigarette consumed is equivalent to 11 minutes less life.
The work of health professionals can be rewarded in different ways. The first and most obvious is through the gratitude of the patients. Also through payment of salary and there is one more that consists of prizes from various institutions. In that sense, a Mexican doctor made history by receiving a special recognition from the World Health Organization (WHO).
In this case, we are referring to the doctor and researcher at the National Institute of Public Health (INSP) Light Myriam Reynales Shigematsu. The reason for this feat was his work and contribution to public policies and measures for tobacco control in Mexico and globally.
Both she and Dr. Blanca Llorente Carreño, from Colombia, were recognized by the WHO with the World No Tobacco Day 2023 Awardfor their long-term contributions to tobacco control research and advocacy in their countries, in the region, and globally.
Work done
For more than 20 years, the head of the INSP Smoking Control and Prevention Department works in various lines of research focused on the epidemiological knowledge of smoking; public policies, fiscal economics, evaluation of the impact of packaging and labeling; prohibition, publicity and sponsorship; smoking cessation and smoke-free spaces.
In an interview, he said that a multidisciplinary working group made up of professionals from medicine, epidemiology, economics, social epidemiology and communication participates in these lines of research.
“It has been found that the tobacco epidemic is crossed by social determinants that cause inequity between men, women, young people and older adults, people with lower incomes and in different regions. This knowledge has allowed the elaboration of equitable and responsible public policies”.
In this context, he explained that men smoke in a greater proportion than women; The people who are most exposed to tobacco smoke are women, girls and boys, because they breathe smoke at home, which means an inequity gap for those who experience involuntary exposure.
In addition, it was identified that there are five million people who smoke who belong to sectors with fewer resources, so they are at greater risk of developing some chronic noncommunicable disease (NCD)), die or lose their patrimony for taking care of these conditions.
Doctor receives special recognition from WHO
Luz Myriam Reynales said that one of her most important contributions is participating in the Tobacco Control Monitoring and Surveillance System in Mexicowith the aim of harmonizing studies such as the National Survey of Addictions (Encodat), the National Survey of Health and Nutrition (Ensanut) and the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS, for its acronym in English).
Through GATS, participating countries obtain data on tobacco use and control measures, as well as public policies at the federal and state levels for decision-making.
He explained that the subject of his master’s and doctoral thesis was the estimation of health care costs attributable to tobacco consumption, which originated an investigation of tobacco economics in fiscal policy to manage State resources in public health.
Given this scenario, he reported that it is estimated that in Mexico The cost of medical care in the Health sector for diseases caused by tobacco use is 115 billion pesos and only 45 billion pesos are collected from taxes.
Also, the National system of health disburses close to 116 billion pesos to treat diseases that could be avoided if the recommendations of the WHO Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC-WHO) are implemented, such as the total ban on advertising, promotion and sponsorship of products tobacco.
The framework agreement proposes health warnings on cigarette packaging that cover at least 30 percent of the exposed surfaces; protection from exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke in all workplaces, interiors, spaces and public transport, closed places; as well as measures to reduce illegal trade.
The specialist warned that to prevent the child, adolescent and youth population from becoming hooked on consumption, the law must be complied with prohibits the sale to minors under 18 years of age and single cigarettes. Likewise, smoking cessation programs must be maintained and preventive actions implemented in the community, school and family.
The researcher indicated that the most frequent diseases caused by smoking are addiction, acute myocardial infarction, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, emphysema, lung cancer, otitis, and asthma exacerbations, and these conditions should be considered to cause harm. to the health of children exposed to these products.
For her part, the INSP doctor who received this recognition from the WHO is also a leader in the training of human resources and, in coordination with the Global Institute for Tobacco Control at Johns Hopkins University, teaches an annual summer course directed to people who work on the subject in Mexico and in the region of the Americas.
Luz Myriam Reynales Shigematsu coordinates the course-workshop “Strategies for the control of smoking in Mexico and Latin America”, which has been taught annually for 22 years, and brings together academic professionals and public health specialists from different countries.
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