鈥榊osi Kadiri鈥� returns to expose the risks in using vape
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) has announced the return of its “Yosi Kadiri” campaign, now with its added goal to “unmask vape’s fatal link to heart and lung diseases.”
In a statement, the DOH said the “Yosi Kadiri” would divulge the connections between tobacco and vape with its link to conditions, such as atherosclerosis, multiple forms of cancer like lung cancer, mouth cancer, neck cancer, esophageal cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and liver cancer.
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It added that the campaign would unmask the alarming E-cigarette or Vaping Use-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI).
“The DOH sounds a renewed alarm on vaping, with the powerful return of Yosi Kadiri, now accompanied by new personalities: Vape Sulasok, Eva Li, and Ate Rose,” the department said on Friday.
‘Tobacco and vape products are deadly’
The DOH warned the public to make a significant effort to protect themselves and their loved ones by avoiding tobacco and vape products.
The department mentioned that in 2021, the Global Burden of Disease Study reported “88,169 Filipino deaths directly attributable to tobacco use.”
As for vapes, the DOH noted the data of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey, which showed that the number of Filipino youth who use electronic cigarettes significantly increased, from 11.7% in 2015 to 24.6% in 2019.
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“This unsettling trend is fueled by the relentless and misleading campaigns of tobacco and vape industries, which falsely present vape products as a safer option than cigarettes,” the DOH said.
It furthered that young users are at a significantly higher risk of progressing to cigarette smoking, thereby trapping them in a cycle of nicotine addiction.
With this, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said that the department will further its work to protect Filipinos from the effects of tobacco and vape use.
“Walang Bagong Pilipinas na amoy yosi. Hindi Bago ang Pilipinas kung ang baga ng Pilipino ay may lason ng vape,” Herbosa said.
“We continue to call on all of our partners to work with us in building a strong, unified front in the prevention and control of these products,” he added.
The DOH also said that it will continue to oppose any measures that seek to decrease the real price of tobacco products, including legislative measures that aims to disrupt the existing tobacco excise tax indexation, and strongly supports the strengthening and implementation of a unified excise tax measure for vapor products.
The agency also vowed to continue advocating for strong policy measures and places high importance on local-level interventions, working closely with provincial and city governments, and to prioritize individual-level interventions that aim “to influence the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of each Filipino.”
“These personal-focused strategies complement broader structural and environmental interventions, ensuring a comprehensive approach to tobacco control,” said the DOH. /cb
