Asia-Pacific Cities Unite In Jakarta To Fast-Track Action On Tobacco, TB, AMR and NCDs
With the clock ticking on the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, local governments across Asia and the Pacific are stepping up, shifting the fight against preventable deaths from boardrooms to the streets, clinics and communities where lives are actually saved.
Leaders from 121 cities in 12 countries have endorsed a landmark Political Declaration at the 8th Asia Pacific Cities Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT) Summit in Jakarta, committing to stronger local action against tobacco use, tuberculosis (TB), antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
The summit brought together mayors, governors, lawmakers and health experts from countries including Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Malaysia, Nepal, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.
The gathering was organised by APCAT and Vital Strategies, in partnership with Indonesia’s Ministry of Health and other regional and global health bodies.
Vice Minister for Home Affairs of Indonesia, Dr Bima Arya Sugiarto, stressed that local leadership is critical to translating global health promises into real-world impact.
He warned of aggressive tobacco industry tactics and called on city leaders to move “beyond declarations” to concrete action, through stronger enforcement, innovation and collaboration.
“Preventable deaths from tobacco, NCDs, TB and AMR continue to undermine development,” said Dr Tara Singh Bam of APCAT and Vital Strategies, noting that tobacco alone costs the global economy about US$2 trillion annually.
Myanmar’s Deputy Director General for Disease Control, Dr Kyaw Kan Kaung, shared his country’s experience with implementing standardised plain packaging for tobacco products, which took full effect in October 2025 despite sustained industry resistance.
He highlighted the vital role of sub-national governments in enforcing national health policies.
Under the 2026 APCAT Declaration, cities pledged to strengthen smoke-free policies, ban tobacco advertising, raise taxes on unhealthy products, protect public policy from industry interference, integrate tobacco control into TB and NCD services, and adopt One Health approaches to build healthier, more resilient cities.
As the SDG deadline draws closer, the message from Jakarta is clear: cities are no longer waiting, they are leading the charge to save lives from preventable diseases.
Follow the Savinews Africa channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VawgaEL5vKA9Y5XTFg0n
