On 31 May 2025, Samoa will observe a full day without tobacco and vape use as part of the global World No Tobacco Day campaign. The Samoa Cancer Society has adopted the theme “Leai se tapa’a/ leai se vape Samoa: amata mai i le oso a’e o le la se’i o’o ina toe goto atu” to promote awareness around the harms of tobacco and vaping.
According to the Samoa Cancer Society, tobacco use is the main cause of lung cancer globally. In Samoa, approximately 22.1 percent of adults are current smokers, with 31 percent of men and 13.1 percent of women smoking. Among young people aged 10 to 14, about 15.1 percent are reported to smoke, with a higher rate of 22 percent among boys. Tobacco use contributes to 15.1 percent of all deaths in Samoa, with the economic cost estimated at around 35 million Samoan tala annually.
Tobacco use has been linked to cancers of the mouth, throat, nose, sinuses, esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, kidneys, bladder, colon, rectum, cervix, ovaries, and blood. These harmful effects stem from the thousands of toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke, which can damage DNA and weaken the body’s ability to fight cancer. Even non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke face increased health risks.
In addition to tobacco use, the rising popularity of vaping in Samoa is a growing concern. While vaping is often marketed as a safer alternative to smoking, health experts warn of its dangers. Vape products contain harmful chemicals that can damage the lungs and other organs. The aerosol from vaping includes nicotine, ultrafine particles, heavy metals such as lead, and chemicals linked to lung disease and cancer. Nicotine is highly addictive, especially for young people, and can harm brain development. Recent studies have linked vaping to serious lung injuries and potential long-term respiratory problems.
In Samoa, there have been reports of increased vaping among students, with some schools observing use on their premises. Currently, there is no specific legislation regulating e-cigarettes in Samoa, raising further concerns about the unchecked spread of vaping.
The Ministry of Health has set a target to reduce the smoking rate by one-third by 2030. In 2017, tobacco use was estimated to cost Samoa’s economy approximately 47 million Samoan tala, or about 2.3 percent of GDP.
Stopping the use of tobacco and vape reduces the risk of developing cancer and other serious illnesses. Health improvements begin shortly after quitting and continue to increase over time.
The Samoa Cancer Society encourages everyone to use this day to focus on their health and the wellbeing of those around them.
Leai se tapa’a/ leai se vape Samoa: amata mai i le oso a’e o le la se’i o’o ina toe goto atu
E 24 itula o le a faamalosia ai le taofia o le tagofia ma le faaaogaina o le oloa o le tapaa i le lalolagi atoa, i le aso 31 o Me 2025.
I aiaiga o le aso faapitoa e leai atu ai i le faaaogaina o le tapaa i lenei tausaga, ua faaautuina ai e le sosaiete o le kanesa lana polokalame i le autu, Malamalama i le kanesa o mama.
I faamaumauga a le sosaiete ua maua ai, o le tapa’a o le mafua’aga autu lea o le kanesa o le mama i le lalolagi ma e a’afia ai le o lo’o ulaula ma e mafai fo’i ona a’afia se tagata o lo’o lata ane i ai ma manavaina le asu mai le tapa’a. A ui i lea, o le tapa’a e feso’ota’i atu i le atina’eina o kanesa e 15 e aofia ai:
- Gutu, fa’ai ma le vaega o lo’o iai le leo
- Kanesa o le Isu ma pu isu
- Kanesa o le ala meaai
- Kanesa o le manava
- Kanesa o le ate
- Kanesa o le ate pili (pancreatic cancer)
- Kanesa o fatu ga’o
- Kanesa o le taga vai
- Kanesa o le taufale (kanesa o le taufale lap’oa)
- Kanesa o le toala fanau
- Kanesa i fua fanau o le tama’ita’i
- Lukimi (kanesa o le toto)
O a’afiaga leaga o le ulaula e mafua mai i le faitau afe o vaila’au i asu o le tapaa. O nei vaila’au e mafai ona fa’aleagaina ai le DNA ma vaivai ai vaega o lo’o puipuia le tino, ma fa’afaigata ai i le tino ona tete’e atu i musele o le kanesa.
O su’esu’ega fou o lo’o fa’aalia ai o le faaaogaina o le vape, o lo’o i ai le tele o vaila’au oona.
O le taofia o le tapa’a ma le vape e matua maualalo le avanoa e atina’eina ai le kanesa. O fa’amanuiaga o le fa’amutaina e amata i se taimi pu’upu’u pe a mae’a le fa’amutaina ma e fa’aauau pea ma si’itia i taimi oi luma.
