[Intl-tobacco] Congratulations to our friend Dr. Hatai!

[Robert Weissman]

Thai Medic's Anti-tobacco Role Honoured / Doctor one of only 18 people
worldwide
by Aphaluck Bhatiasevi 
Source: Bangkok Post, Thursday, 6/1/00

 A Thai doctor who strongly advocates tobacco consumption control was
among three Southeast Asians honoured yesterday with the World Health
Organisation's first "Tobacco-Free World Awards 2000" only given to 18
people worldwide.

Dr Hathai Chitanondh, president of the Thailand Health Promotion
Foundation, was awarded for his effort in initiating and drafting two
tobacco laws and in pushing for their enforcement.

A staunch anti-smoking campaigner, Dr Hathai, 70, had actively pushed for
the enforcement of the Non-Smokers' Health Protection Act and the Tobacco
Products Control Act, both of which went into effect in 1992.  After
retiring as deputy permanent secretary for public health in 1989, Dr
Hathai became the first secretary of the National Committee for the
Control of Tobacco Use. He also chaired a committee drafting tobacco
control laws.

Dr Hathai has vowed to fight the tobacco industry for the rest of his
life.

"We have to fight them all the time, all our lives because the tobacco
industry usually goes underground. They lobby under the table," he said.

Dr Hathai said though Thailand has achieved a level of success in
controlling tobacco consumption, a lot more needed to be done to counter
trans-boundary problems such as cigarette smuggling. Dr Judith Mackay, a
senior WHO policy adviser, said there were currently 10.2 million smokers
in Thailand, and this was expected to rise to about 15 million by 2025,
due mainly to increasing population.

The other two organisations honoured by the WHO yesterday were the
National Cancer Institute of India and the Ministry of Public Health of
Maldives.  WHO director-general, Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland said governments
should be made to realise the gains they made from tobacco product sales
would not be permanent.

She said positive signs were being observed from major international
foundations, such as the Rockefeller Foundation which has announced a
US$10-million fund to help four developing countries in Southeast Asia
fight tobacco consumption.