Antismoking Advocate
for the World: Dr. Judith Longstaff Mackay
by Anne Ahlman, MPT
Published Jan 21, 2004
Reprinted with the permission of Angels in Medicine,
www.medangel.org
Dr. Mackay is a life-long
proponent of health, and is fearless when it comes to standing up for her
beliefs. Her family background ideally suited her to become a strong and
independent trailblazer. Born in North Yorkshire, her mother was one of the
first women to attend university in England, and her father was a naval captain,
decorated in World War II with the Distinguished Service Cross.[1]
Dr. Mackay earned her medical
degree at the University of Edinburgh at the early age of 22, and shortly
thereafter began working in clinical medicine in Hong Kong after learning how to
speak the local language. She soon found that clinical practice in Hong Kong
brought her into contact with patients of all ages with tobacco-related
problems, including lung disease, cancer, and heart disease.
She quickly saw that treating
the outcome of the disease process, rather than being able to prevent the
disease at its source, was inadequate: at the time, public safety education
about the prevention of tobacco-related illness was nearly unheard of, not just
in Hong Kong but throughout most of Asia. Tobacco use in Hong Kong and
neighboring China was prevalent in men and on the rise in both women and
children, with no legislation against cigarette advertising, no health warnings
on tobacco products, no tobacco taxation policy, and no rules to restrict
tobacco sale to minors.
Extent of the Problem
Tobacco has been a significant
world vice since the early 1600s. Originating in the Americas, tobacco is
ingested via cigarette, cigar, pipe, snuff, chewing tobacco, and even enema.
Despite the many known associated health risks and increased death rates, world
tobacco consumption is on the rise, and it is a highly addictive substance. It
has been through the unrelenting efforts of passionate health advocates like Dr.
Mackay that loss of life has not been more widespread. Although in developed
nations cigarette usage is declining through advancing legislation and public
health education, the new markets targeted by the tobacco companies are
developing nations and youth. Once a child becomes addicted to tobacco, the
habit is extremely difficult to break--something the tobacco companies count on!
Tobacco companies are extremely influential politically, and do a booming
business in international trade.
Until recently, the public has
been blissfully unaware of the true dangers of tobacco, not realizing its
widespread reach. Statistically, more people will die from tobacco than from
AIDS, car accidents, murder, suicide, and legal and illegal drug use combined.[2]
Armed with this knowledge, and with characteristic determination, Dr. Mackay
began the process of educating the public about tobacco's risks from her base in
Hong Kong. She steadily formulated alliances throughout Asia, usually receiving
no monetary compensation for her efforts.
Achievements
Initially, she was instrumental
in bringing about a ban on smokeless tobacco products in Hong Kong, and helped
form Asia's first tobacco control agency. Subsequently, she became the founding
Executive Director of the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health (COSH). Over
time there was a deluge of requests from neighboring countries clamoring for her
assistance, so she formed the Asian Consultancy on Tobacco Control in order to
share her expertise.
Over the years, Dr. Mackay has
implemented many tobacco control programs, and focuses on the empowerment of
nations to regulate this global health threat. She has helped developing
countries draft legislation, provided workshops, written for medical journals,
and granted television and radio interviews, all with the goal of promoting
health education and tobacco control in targeted countries. She currently works
closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) as a senior policy advisor, and
travels the globe continuing to educate and assist countries in their fight
against tobacco.
She has won many awards and
commendations, including the United States Surgeon General's Medallion, the WHO
Commemorative Medal, the 2000 Healthrack "Fries" Prize, and the Luther Terry
Award for Outstanding Individual Leadership--she has even been awarded Member of
the British Empire in recognition of her anti-tobacco work.
Soft-spoken yet direct, Dr.
Mackay is a tireless crusader and advocate of preventative health, and is
influential in saving the lives of millions against the scourge of tobacco. She
regards it as a particular honor to have been identified by the transnational
tobacco companies as "one of the three most dangerous people in the world"! Dr.
Judith Mackay continues to be a guardian angel for the masses in the fight
against smoking, a major cause of preventable disease.
References
- The Doctor-Activist.
Physicians Fighting for Social Change. Bassuk EL (ed.). Plenum Press, New
York. 1996.
-
The Tobacco Atlas.
Mackay J, Eriksen M. World Health Organization. Myriad Editions Limited, Hong
Kong. 2002.
About the Author
Anne Ahlman is a medical
writer, editor, and physical therapist. She has a keen interest in all aspects of
healthcare, and is currently working on a series of continuing education courses
for health professionals.
