In Kosovo about 33 percent of citizens are smokers

Periskopi

10 April 2023, 10:49(3 years ago)

The Sanitary Inspectorate in the Food and Veterinary Agency has told Radio Kosovo that the anti-smoking law has been implemented since its adoption, but challenging for them has been because other inspectors have not helped make implementation of this law. And from O'S office BSH in Kosovo have said [...]

And from O'S office BSH in Kosovo has told Radio Kosovo that starting law enforcement is a positive step towards protecting the health of Kosovo citizens.

In Kosovo about 33 percent of citizens are smokers, and what is of concern is that femininity smoking has increased recently compared to the past. As the start of tobacco consumption begins with young people aged 17 and with the emphasis on specialities starts with women, and this is extremely disturbing, Chief Inspector Sanitarian of the Food and Veterinary Agency, Ibrahim Trshnjak, has told Radio Kosovo. He says the Tobacco Control Law has been implemented to the maximum, but did not have the support of other inspectors.

But one of the biggest challenges is being left alone. It's extremely problematic because the other inspectors didn't help us enforce this law and empower it. To increase the social awareness of this society by using basic health education, which is the main parameter for functioning a” law, Tersnjak said.

Tersnjak, now says there are currently 49 active inspectors in the entire territory of Kosovo, and that they have applied for increased inspectors because they are in their absence. While Oleksandri Martynenko, leader of the World Health Organisation's office in Kosovo, has told Radio Kosovo that Kosovo must implement the anti-smoking law in public spaces so that there will be no health consequences for citizens.

A new positive development is the beginning of the law on prevention of tobacco in public spaces. There's been this law for 10 years. This law is very important to implement and abstain from smoking in public spaces so that there will be no health consequences for both those who smoke tobacco and those who are not consumers of it, so that they do not have cancer and have a healthy life”, Martynenko said.

Under the Anti-smoking Law, if you smoke in the areas where it is prohibited by law, fine subjects are between 1,000 and three thousand euros, until for the physical person 30 to 50 euros.