SWEDE SUCCESS: SWEDEN MAKE HISTORY AS WORLD’S FIRST SMOKE-FREE NATION

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 14 (Bernama) -- Sweden has officially become a smoke-free nation, with smoking prevalence across the country falling to a historic low of just 5.3 per cent.

This significant achievement is a direct result of the country's comprehensive public health policies and initiatives designed to reduce smoking prevalence and promote healthier lifestyles.

Quit Like Sweden Founder, Suely Castro said Sweden has shown that with the right combination of smoking cessation programmes and accessible, acceptable, and affordable alternatives, a future with fewer smoking-related deaths and illnesses is not just possible, it is achievable.

Castro emphasised the need for global action to replicate Sweden’s success and the world needs to come together to make this a worldwide success.

“This is not just Sweden’s victory, it is a proof of concept for the entire world. Today, we can celebrate a public health revolution,” she said in a statement.

Remarkably, among those who have benefitted from Swedish policies throughout their lives, smoking rates are even lower, at just 4.5 per cent.

Meanwhile, those who have relocated to Sweden from other European countries, smoking rates have dropped dramatically to 7.8 per cent, compared with individuals who are three times more likely to smoke in their home countries, where the prevalence stands at 24 per cent.

Quit Like Sweden, a platform dedicated to sharing the “Swedish Experience”, is celebrating this milestone with calls for other nations to improve millions of lives around the world.

A non-profit platform, Quit Like Sweden is committed to helping countries adopting the Swedish Experience in reducing smoking prevalence, by combining cessation and prevention measures and programmes with accessible, acceptable, and affordable alternatives.

-- BERNAMA