Community power in tobacco cessation: sustainable solutions for low- and middle-income countries

Tobacco use remains a major global public health issue that results in more than 8 million deaths annually, with over 80% occurring in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). South Asian countries bear an unevenly increased burden of tobacco-related cancers and other diseases. Beyond its health effects, tobacco deepens poverty, widens social inequalities, and burdens national economies. Although the World Health Organization (WHO) provides effective frameworks, progress in LMICs remains limited due to weak enforcement, industrial lobbying, and poor implementation. In the absence of well-resourced healthcare systems, community-based approaches have emerged as a sustainable and resource-efficient strategy for tobacco control. These initiatives empower trusted local figures to integrate cessation messages into schools, maternal health visits, and community gatherings. Empowering communities as co-designers of cessation programs is essential to achieving the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control goals and Sustainable Development Goal 3.