World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Smoking Cessation and Treatment of Tobacco Dependence
Best Practices of Smoking Cessation in the Western Pacific Region
Questionnaire
1. Country / Region
Palau/ Western Pacific Region
Programme background
2. Name of Programme / Service
Prevention Unit – oversees tobacco prevention and control program, alcohol prevention and control program, and other substance use
3. Objective(s) of the programme / service (e.g. triggering quit attempt, promoting new activity, provision of cessation services)
The provision of Prevention Unit services key evidenced based strategies and activities is to delay impact of the onset of Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drug use:-
- to reduce access to alcohol and tobacco,
- to change social norms,
- to prevent addictive disorders and chronic diseases/NCDs caused by alcohol and tobacco, violence and injury prevention,
- to promote overall health leading to mental, emotional, and behavioral health wellness in individuals, families, communities, and as a nation.
4. Duration / time period of the programme / service
Maybe since early 2000
5. Target population
Youth, school-aged children, adults, pregnant women and general population
Programme details
6. Please briefly describe the activity(-ies) carried out under the programme / service (e.g. provision of smoking cessation services, campaign to promote/enhance cessation services provision).
- Brief Screening, Intervention and Referral (Primary Preventive and Interventions)
- Community awareness & educational campaigns on Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug use
- Surveillance and national surveys for youth & adults
- Licensed Tobacco vendor inspections
- Merchant education
- Provide/support trainings and capacity developments on protocols and systems on tobacco prevention and control
7. What were the factors that contributed to the programme / service establishment?
N/A
8. Did the programme / service involve other organisation(s) (e.g. non-governmental organisation, professional association, academia)? What were their roles?
Yes – local NGOs and community-based organizations, technical partners and organizations such as WHO, SAMSHA and CDC. They provide technical assistance, workshop/trainings and other professional development opportunities.
9. Please briefly describe the resource implications for this programme / service:
| a) | How was/were necessary funding and/or manpower secured? |
|---|---|
| Our office is fully funded through grants, which cover personnel, supplies, office space, and other operational needs. | |
| b) | Please briefly describe any use of information technology to implement or facilitate the programme / service |
| We use computers for communication and reporting, tablets for conducting assessments, and laptops for outreach activities. | |
| c) | Any other special resource required to implement the programme / service? |
| NRTs |
10. COVID-19
| a) | Please briefly describe any difficulties encountered during the programme / service implementation amid COVID-19. |
|---|---|
| During the pandemic, access to our public health clinics and services was limited as we shifted focus to response and mitigation efforts. As a result, many major activities were postponed. | |
| b) | How did you overcome them? |
| Resilience, teamwork, and dedication—combined with consistent communication and strong collaboration within the Ministry of Health, the community, and partner organizations—have been key to our efforts. |
Programme evaluation
11. Was there any evaluation of the programme / service (e.g. quantitative survey, qualitative interview, etc.) conducted?
We did ask some questions about COVID’s impact on our Adult population survey, HIES and others (household surveys by Red Cross)
12. What was the impact of the programme / services (e.g. number of smokers who quit)?
As mentioned above, services were limited to public during the entire COVID time, within 2020 to 2022. Nevertheless, the Program maintained its mass media education efforts—particularly focusing on tobacco and COVID-19—and continued to provide support for referrals and smoking cessation.
13. How would the evaluation results be used (e.g. improving policy / programmes)?
Evaluation results are essential for effective program planning and policy development in Palau. They help identify strengths and weaknesses, support evidence-based decision-making, foster accountability, and promote continuous improvement. Evaluations also ensure cost-effectiveness, encourage stakeholder engagement, and facilitate knowledge sharing. By actively integrating evaluation into our framework, we empower our Program to evolve sustainably and advance our development goals for a healthier Palau.