1. Tobacco control in Serbia 1 TOBACCO CONTROL IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA Prof. Dr Snežana Simić School of Medicine Belgrade University and Dr Oliver Petrović UNICEF – Belgrade Republic of Serbia ACTIVITY PANEL – The Role of Public Health Association in Tobacco Control: Lessons Learned XI WORLD CONGRESS ON PUBLIC HEALTH 21-25 August, 2006, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

2. Tobacco control in Serbia 2 Where do We come from? Republic of Slovenia (6) Republic of Croatia (2) Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1) Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) (3) Republic of Montenegro (4) Republic of Serbia (5): BELGRADE www.beograd.org.yu

3. Tobacco control in Serbia 3 The Burden of Disease and Injury in Serbia (without Kosovo) Tobacco smoking is the risk factor responsible for the largest burden, followed by hypertension, physical inactivity and obesity – those risk factors are responsible for 45% of the mortality burden in Serbia. Source: www.sbds.sr.gov.yuwww.sbds.sr.gov.yu Every second adult men (48%), and every third women (33.6%) in Republic of Serbia are smokers (Health survey, 2000) Serbian Global Youth Tobacco Survey: - 16.3% students currently smoke, - 7% are daily smokers (7.1% boys and 6.6% girls) - 97.4% live in homes where others smoke - 70.9% have one or both parents who smoke

4. Tobacco control in Serbia 4 TOBACCO CONTROL ACTIVITIES IN SERBIA National Commission for smoking prevention Public performances for National non-smoking day (January 31 st ) and World non-smoking day (May 31 st ) Serbia signed FCTC in June 2004 and ratified in December 2005. Global Youth Tobacco Survey and Professional Tobacco Survey (pilot) Development of modern legislation Strategy for Tobacco Control of the Republic of Serbia, draft, December 2005. Network of individual and group counseling for smoking cessation in health care institutions International cooperation and support in tobacco control – CPHA, EU/EAR, WHO and others Governmental Council for Tobacco Control

5. Tobacco control in Serbia 5 PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF SERBIA – established with support of Canadian Public Health Association-CPHA 500 public health professionals were present at October 2003. meeting in Belgrade

6. Tobacco control in Serbia 6 Partnership of Serbian Public Health Association with Government and International partners (CPHA) in Tobacco Control Financial support Joint activities – Street performances Promoting materials: spots, posters, billboards… Workshops, conferences, training… Development of strategies, political documents, legislative framework… Mobilization of communities and …. European Agency for Reconstruction - EAR

7. Tobacco control in Serbia 7 LIFLETS, POSTERS, PROMOTING MATERIALS

8. Tobacco control in Serbia 8 NATIONAL NON-SMOKING DAY (January 31 st ) WORLD NON-SMOKING DAY (May 31 st ) Street performances “ More vitamins – less nicotine” Yrs: 2003 2004 2005 2006

9. Tobacco control in Serbia 9 STRATEGY FOR TOBACCO CONTROL OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA – draft, December 2005. General goal of Strategy is to provide framework for implementation of tobacco control measures to promote health of the Republic of Serbia citizens and to protect them from harmful effects of smoking and exposure to tobacco smoke. Quantitative goals are: 1. Prevalence of smoking decreasing for 1% in adolescent and 2% in adults per year; 2. Increasing of tobacco quit rate for 2% per year; and 3. Increasing the number of tobacco free working places for 5% per year.

10. Tobacco control in Serbia 10 The Role of Public Health Association in Tobacco Control- lessons learned! Political willingness and support of Government; Dedication and support of Minister of health; Motivation and leadership between public health workers; Financial support/financial sustainability; International support and involvement; Strategic orientation/Strategy, Laws, Political documents… and Continuity, mobility, new ideas and activities.

11. Tobacco control in Serbia 11 CHALLENGES 1. Smoking is culturally acceptable behavior and therefore is difficult to change it - there is a risk of bad image of PHA; 2. Strong pressure of tobacco industry lobby on prominent people – they can’t stop, but can delay activities and implementation of laws.

12. Tobacco control in Serbia 12 Thank you very much for your attention !!! Smoking is dangerous for health, even blonds understud this well !!!