The “WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2008: The MPOWER package” published in February, 2008 is the most successful data collection effort to date in tobacco control at the global level. MPOWER stands for Monitoring tobacco use; Protect people from tobacco smoke; Offer help to quit tobacco use; Warn about the dangers of tobacco; Enforce bans on tobacco advertising promotion; Raise taxes on tobacco products.

The six policy package encourages policy-makers, health-care providers, civil societies and all other relevant stake holders to envision a world free of tobacco use. The package provides the tools to create a world where tobacco use declines by promoting a legal and socio-economic context that favors tobacco-free life style.

In his speech Dr A.F.M. Ruhal Haque, the Bangladesh Minister of Health and Family Welfare, said that “for the first time, we have solid data to raise our voice against the tobacco epidemic”. The MPOWER policy package can reverse the tobacco epidemic and prevent millions of tobacco-related deaths. The epidemic poses a long-term economic threat to countries and had the potential to slow their development. If the epidemic worsens, the economic losses in highly populated developing countries, such as Bangladesh, may be severe.

          Professor Shah Monir Hossain, Director General of Health Services, in his welcome remarks, told that a sincere effort to implement and enforce the MPOWER package can reverse the tobacco epidemic and help the countries build on their commitment made in the WHO FCTC to protect the health of their people.

          Dr Myint Htwe, Director of Programme Management, WHO-SEARO, read out the message of the WHO Regional Director for South East Asia, Dr Samlee Plianbangchang. In his message the RD felt that the  MPOWER recommendations can turn the vision of the WHO Framework Convention for Tobacco Control into a global reality.  Achievement of tobacco control goals, however, will require coordination among many government agencies, academic institutions, professional associations, relevant stakeholders and civil society organizations at the country level, as well as the coordinated support of international institutions and development agencies. If countries have the political commitment and technical and logistic support to implement the MPOWER policy package, they can save millions of lives worldwide.

          About 45 participants from the Ministries of Health, Finance and Home Affairs from 11 SEAR countries and resource persons from WHO Headquarters and SEARO, the World Lung Foundation, The Union and Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids attended the workshop.