Calling tobacco use one of Moracco’s most serious health concerns, Health Minister Amine Tahraoui announced the second phase of a national plan to address it. Speaking at the House of Representatives earlier this week, Tahraoui outlined the plan scheduled to run through 2029, part of a strategy to address non-communicable diseases and ultimately reduce smoking by 20% in the nation. Combating tobacco use was a priority under the first phase, the National Plan for Cancer Prevention and Control, which ran from 2010-2019.
The second phase will have several new measures, mostly centered around raising public awareness and launching campaigns focused on educating citizens.
“Every year, nearly 8 million lives are lost to tobacco worldwide,” Tahraoui said. “Morocco must take stronger steps to safeguard its population from this tragic reality.” The minister said 8% of Moroccan deaths are attributed to tobacco use, costing the nation $500 million each year, which represents 8.5% of total healthcare expenditures and 0.45% of the national GDP.