Mayors and regents representing 48 jurisdictions across Indonesia agreed to significant tobacco control reforms in their cities, including policies for 100 percent smoke-free public places and bans on tobacco advertising promotion and sponsorship.
Mayors and regents representing 48 jurisdictions across Indonesia agreed to significant tobacco control reforms in their cities, including policies for 100 percent smoke-free public places, bans on tobacco advertising promotion and sponsorship and moves to integrate tobacco control into other local health programmes.
At a meeting, held in Yogyakarta on 12 July, participants also committed to supporting the national government to increase excise taxes on tobacco and introduce larger graphic health warnings on tobacco packaging. The meeting was organised by Indonesia’s Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Mayors’ Alliance and The Union. More than 300 people attended the event.
Minister of Health, Nila Djuwita Farid Moelek opened the meeting, which was chaired by Dr Hasto Wardoyo, the chair of the Indonesian Mayor/Regent Aliance. Mayors took turns to share their cities successes such as Dr Bima Arya, Mayor of Bogor City and the Co-Chair of the Asia Pacific Cities Alliance for Tobacco control (AP-CAT) who spoke about Bogor City’s smoke-free implementation and the positive impact of its tobacco advertising ban; Mr Adi Ariantara, Head of Social Welfare of Provincial Secretary from Jakarta presented on the use of subnational tobacco tax for tobacco control programs in Jakarta; Dr Hasto, shared the success story of the tobacco advertising ban in Kulon Progo District.
Researchers from Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, presented evidence showing that in three cities in eastern Indonesia, more than 95 percent of pregnant women were exposed to cigarette smoke at home, on public transport and in other public venues. This data supported calls for cities to introduce 100 percent smoke-free policies.
Several cities were given awards in recognition of their successes introducing comprehensive smoke-free policies and advertising bans.
Indonesia is a priority country for the Union’s work under the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use. It has some of the highest smoking rates in the world – 65 percent of adult men are smokers.