Anti-Harm Reduction Stance Under Fire
The World Health Organization's anti-harm reduction stance came under fire by the World Vapers’ Alliance on World Cancer Day
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by Dave Cross
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World Cancer Day is an international day observed every 4 February to raise awareness about cancer, encourage its prevention, and mobilise action to address the global cancer epidemic, led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). The UICC has “official relations with the World Health Organization”. This year, the World Health Organization came under fire for its anti-harm reduction stance by the World Vapers’ Alliance.
The UICC says: “By catalysing personal, collective and government action, we are all working together to reimagine a world where millions of cancer deaths are prevented and access to life-saving cancer treatment and care is equitable for all no matter who you are and where you live.
“Each year, hundreds of activities and events take place around the world, gathering communities, organisations and individuals in schools, businesses, hospitals, marketplaces, parks, community halls, places of worship - in the streets and online - acting as a powerful reminder that we all have a role to play in reducing the global impact of cancer.”
This year, the day went under the banner ‘United by Unique’, with the World Health Organization saying it wants people placed at the centre of approaches.
But does the WHO really place people at the centre of its policies?
The World Vapers’ Alliance points out that almost ten million people die from cancer yearly, with tobacco smoking remaining one of the leading causes worldwide. Harm reduction advocates have been urging world leaders to embrace tobacco harm reduction to save lives. The World Vapers’ Alliance took issue with the World Health Organization for opposing these potentially life-saving strategies.
World Vapers’ Alliance director Michael Landl said: “For too long, governments have relied on unsuccessful anti-smoking policies and neglected a public health revolution. Vaping and similar harm-reduction products have already saved millions of lives. Vaping is less harmful than smoking, and every smoker switching to vaping should be celebrated. Instead, many governments are fighting against this life-saving technology.”
As reported by Planet of the Vapes, Sweden is about to achieved a 5% smoking rate by accepting snus, vaping, and nicotine pouches. In addition, Japan halved its cigarette sales in a decade with heat-not-burn products. Also, the World Vapers’ Alliance adds, New Zealand excels in communicating about vaping and is nearing its goal of being smoke-free.
“Nicotine pouches offer another route out of smoking, with a risk profile similar to conventional nicotine replacement products,” Landl added.
The World Health Organization’s stance against harm reduction is especially outdated and costs lives, ignoring mounting evidence of e-cigarettes' effectiveness in helping smokers quit, he continued.
“The WHO, by fighting against harm reduction, is losing the fight against smoking by refusing to acknowledge scientific facts. World Cancer Day should be reason enough to change failing policies. It’s time for the WHO and politicians to embrace the vaping revolution for public health and millions of smokers worldwide,” concluded Landl.
Photo Credit:
Image generated by author using AI and logo added
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.
