On 1 November, Dr Cristina Martínez represented the UCT at the I Tobacco Forum in São Paulo, Brazil. Organised by the Paulista Society of Pneumology and Tisiology, the event brought together leaders in respiratory health, public health and tobacco control to discuss policies and innovations to reduce tobacco consumption and exposure to second-hand smoke.
Smoke-free policies in Spain
In her first presentation, Martínez shared Spain’s experience in implementing smoke-free public policies, focusing on the two main laws: Law 28/2005 and Law 42/2010. She highlighted the impact of these laws on reducing exposure to second-hand smoke and discussed the milestones of the legislation, its effectiveness and the challenges of enforcement. The research she presented was part of studies led or conducted in collaboration with members of the ICO’s Tobacco Control Unit (UCT). This collaborative effort provided valuable evidence on the outcomes of smoke-free legislation and lessons for other countries considering similar policies to protect non-smokers and promote public health.
The PIECES project: A European approach to cancer prevention
In her second presentation, Martínez introduced the PIECES project, an ambitious initiative in Europe to implement and adapt evidence-based primary cancer prevention programmes. She outlined the objectives of the project, which include addressing modifiable risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption and physical inactivity. The presentation highlighted the importance of tailored implementation strategies to ensure that these programmes are successful in real-world settings.
Cristina Martínez’s participation underlines UCT’s commitment to international collaboration in public health and reinforces the importance of sharing knowledge to advance tobacco control and cancer prevention globally.