National Tobacco Research Dissemination and Tobacco Control Leadership Training Graduation Ceremony

On December 9, 2008, Loma Linda University presented program certificates to thirteen trainees, seven from Cambodia and six from Laos, at a graduation ceremony presided over by H.E Dr. Ung Phyrun, Secretary of State of Ministry of Health and David T Dyjack DrPH, Dean, Loma Linda University, School of Public Health . As part of the event, Mr. Mark Schwisow, Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Cambodia Country Director, Dr. Heng Lim Try, Vice Director of National Center for Health Promotion and Dr. Yel Daravuth, National Professional Officer, Tobacco Free Initiative, World Health Organization presided over research presentations. Over seventy persons from local government institutes, non-governmental organizations, ADRA Cambodia and Laos and Loma Linda University joined the event.

ADRA Cambodia has worked in Tobacco Control for almost one decade through a Tobacco or Health program. With a goal that “all Cambodians choose a smoke free life style, and those are smokers will quit,” the program has worked closely with the Cambodian government Ministries of Health, Cults and Religion and Education Youth and Sport. The project has also worked with the Cambodian armed forces, as well as other government offices, rural communities and other organizations.

The South-east Asia Tobacco Control Leadership Training program funded by National Institute of Health, USA began with the Loma Linda University, ADRA Cambodia, ADRA Laos and the respective Ministries of Health in 2002. Extension learning sessions were held in Cambodia and Laos over a five year period. Research was conducted as part of the Tobacco Control Leadership Training program which included the “Cambodia National Tobacco Prevalence Survey (NTPS) 2005.” NTPS was conducted and compiled by the Cambodian National Institute of Statistics, Ministry of Planning, in collaboration with ADRA Cambodia and Loma Linda University. Tobacco prevalence conditions of Cambodian were collected from villages and households with a nationally representative sample of the targeted population from 18 years old up from all 24 provinces/capital of Cambodia. The Tobacco Control Leadership Trainees experienced a variety of research and analysis methods through the process. These results help define the scale of the problem of smoking, understanding the effects of tobacco, monitor and analyze tobacco prevalence control in Cambodia in order to develop or accelerate national strategic policy on tobacco consumption. The research shows that over 1.9 million Cambodian are tobacco users (1.2 million are men) and 600,000 Cambodian women are tobacco chewers.

The results of this Cambodia National Tobacco Prevalence Survey 2005 were presented by Mr. They Kheam, National Institute of Statistics and Dr. Yel Daravuth, WHO. Additional research done by trainees presented included FIRCA Research Project in Laos and Overview of Current Tobacco Situation in Laos by Dr. Khamphithoune Somsamouth. Results from research by a partner organization, Cyclo Center, “The Tobacco Control over Cyclo workers who use Tobacco” were also presented by Mr. Im Sambath.

In his remarks H.E. Ung stated that “tobacco and tobacco use continues to represent one of the leading threats to global health today. Solid verifiable information has been collected, analyzed, published and disseminated to inform both the general public and as well to make the body of world policy makers aware of the negative impacts on individuals, families, communities, public health systems, nations, and our world as a whole of the use of tobacco. Together we can benefit the lives of the people we are working to protect and give the opportunity to maintain the health and wellbeing for themselves and their families.”

Dr. Vorn Vutha represented the trainees stating “passing through this training, we has gained profound knowledge in Tobacco Control and will use the skill to 1) to be good health activists, 2) to be good tobacco control researchers and training of trainers and 3) to contribute to and implement the ministry of health’s tobacco control strategy aim to fight again tobacco usage...”

Media coverage included five TV stations, seven radio stations and four newspapers broadcasting nationally and internationally to reach top policy makers.