The health census reveals alarming figures

Despite this, the prevalence of current tobacco consumption among young people (13-15 years) was reduced from 18.3 in 2002 to 7.8% in 2017

Non-communicable diseases jeopardize progress in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), including a 33% reduction in premature death due to NCD by 2030

In the National Health Prevention Census there were about 600 thousand people, with impressive results: 36% of people suffer from hypertension, 14% of diabetes; 38% of dyslipidemias and 40% of obesity and overweight.

These diseases generate a heavy payment for the Panamanian state and for families, increasing pocket expenses and economic losses associated with productivity downsizing.

In order to promote the prevention of tobacco consumption among our population and to raise awareness through continuing education for our professionals, the Second Multidisciplinary International Congress on Smoking and Non-conductive Diseases, which seeks to prepare our employees, 1000) technical and three hundred (300) administrative, to improve the knowledge and skills of medical staff for the comprehensive management of smoking, its prevention and control.

Under this scientific convention, parallel action will be taken to stimulate the interest in giving up tobacco users.

And to raise awareness amongst the population about the damage caused by the use of cigarettes in the human being through activities such as: Photo Contest, Painting Contest, Clinical Case Contest, Research Contest, Troubadour Contest, Regional Contest all of these things functioned under the slogan of the congress "Tobacco breaks hearts, chooses health".

The Ministry of Health has made efforts to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases where controlling risk factors such as the consumption of salt, sugar and unhealthy food is a national priority.

Consistent with this struggle, regulation of sugary drinks and unhealthy food was implemented in school kiosks.

In addition, we need to implement frontal labeling of the Food and Tax Regulation to progress progressively into our national plan against social transmission diseases. Approximately 4.1 million deaths per year are attributable to an excessive intake of salt / sodium

More than half of the 3.3 million annual deaths attributable to alcohol consumption are due to NCDs, including cancer. Approximately 1.6 million deaths annually can be attributed to insufficient physical activity.

While currently in Panama, the prevalence of current use of tobacco in young people (13-15 years) has been reduced from 18.3 in 2002 to 7.8% in 2017. For 2017, the prevalence of cigarette smoking has been estimated to 3.9%, with no statistically significant differences between boys and girls.

Exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke also recorded significant decreases both at home and in public places.