It is the first national smokefree beach, and only the third in Latin America and the fifth, worldwide.
The San Martin beach in Cozumel became the first in Mexico to be declared smokefree by the Pan-American Health Organization–World Health Organization and the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease. It is the first national smokefree beach, and only the third in Latin America and the fifth, worldwide.
The official declaration took place recently at the beach October in Cozumel, in the presence of more of 100 people, including mayors and representatives from more than 10 states. Dr Ehsan Latif, Director of the Tobacco Control Department represented The Union.
The same day a grant agreement was also signed between The Government of Cozumel and The Union, which will support the implementation of the new smokefree regulations in Cozumel.
Patricio de la Peña Ruiz de Chavez, Quintana Roo’sSecretary of Labor and Social Welfare, said this project is setting an example for Mexico and beyond.
Fredy Marrufo Martin, Mayor of Cozumel, said this event marks a high point in the history of the island in terms of public health and environmental care and congratulated all those from civil society and government who have worked together for years to make this idea a reality.
A workshop was also held that day on "Strategies for the development of smokefree spaces in coastal–touristic municipalities”. Organised by The Union, PAHO/WHO and the Government of Cozumel, the workshop was attended by 21 mayors and representatives from counties and municipalities across Mexico.
The workshop aimed to build the participants’ skills at developing and implementing smokefree environments at the municipal level with emphasis on tourist sites; to help them learn from the experiences of other municipalities how to strengthen tobacco control policies at the regional and sub-regional levels; to increase their knowledge about the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control; and to provide an opportunity for them to network with each other.