According to her, 80 percent of these deaths are due to non-communicable diseases.

Cardiovascular diseases account for more than half of these deaths.

«World No Tobacco Day has been celebrated annually on May 31 since 1987. The main goal of this international initiative is to draw public attention to the consequences of tobacco and nicotine-containing product consumption and the need to strengthen public policy to protect public health from tobacco addiction,» Gulbara Ishenapysova said.

She added that the republic has adopted and updated legislation to protect citizens from the consequences of tobacco consumption, nicotine, and exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke and aerosols.

The Ministry of Health regularly implements legislation and coordinates prevention programs to reduce tobacco consumption at the national level.

«However, there are challenges related to limited resources for prevention efforts and legislative restrictions related to inspections by regulatory authorities. Many measures to control tobacco consumption fall outside the purview of the Ministry of Health. For example, taxes, children’s education, advertising controls, illegal tobacco trade, and others. All of this requires strengthened intersectoral work and close cooperation between the healthcare system and economic, law enforcement, and educational institutions,» the Deputy Minister emphasized.