-In observance of World No Tobacco Day
By Jerromie S. Walters
As the world observes World No Tobacco Day amidst the 77th World Health Assembly, WHO Regional Director, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, has heightened the need to address the dangers associated with tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke.
Her words: “Countries should implement and enforce a 100% ban on public smoking and the use of electronic cigarettes (vaping), apply excise tax and price measures to reduce tobacco consumption, and implement effective measures to communicate health risks through graphic health warnings to populations, including children and youth.
Highlighting the decline in tobacco use globally and the challenges posed by the tobacco industry, Dr. Moeti calls for international efforts to shield young people from harmful tobacco and nicotine products.
Dr. Moeti: “We mark this year’s World No Tobacco Day as the 77th World Health Assembly is being held. In the opening session of the Assembly, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus highlighted that “tobacco use is declining in 150 countries, and there are now 19 million fewer smokers globally than there were two years ago.” This day provides us the opportunity to continue highlighting the dangers associated with tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke”
Under the theme “Protecting children from tobacco industry interference,” the focus is on mobilizing efforts to prevent the deceptive strategies used by the tobacco industry to target youth. With millions of young people using tobacco globally, including in the African Region where prevalence remains a concern, urgent action is needed to combat industry tactics.
She said, “I urge our Member States in the African Region to step up their efforts to protect young people from tobacco industry interference by: 1. Ensuring governments honor and abide by their obligations under WHO FCTC Article 5.3 by introducing safeguards to protect tobacco-control policy from tobacco industry interference. 2. Countering tobacco industry tactics through evidence-based arguments and best practices with full involvement of civil society organizations. 3. Raising awareness among the public on the tactics of the tobacco industry; and 4. Exposing industry efforts to target youth and attract generations of people with addiction through innovative approaches, including marketing new and emerging products and using flavors.”
Despite progress in tobacco control, the tobacco industry continues to target youth through social media campaigns and new products designed to appeal to them. Dr. Moeti urges Member States in Africa to strengthen tobacco regulations, enforce bans on public smoking and vaping, and raise public awareness about the risks of tobacco use.
Dr. Moeti: “In addition, the prevalence of tobacco use among adults in the region has declined from 14.9% in 2010 to 9.5% in 2023. The 2023 WHO Global Report on Trends has shown that 22 countries in the African region are on track to achieve a 30% reduction by the year 2025 relative to 2010 rates1. In an innovative measure to counter increasing tobacco leaf production, WHO and other UN agencies and governments have supported over 5000 tobacco farmers in Kenya and Zambia to switch to alternative crops.”
She emphasized, “I encourage all our partners, including other UN agencies, civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, academia, and communities, to raise awareness about the risks of tobacco use and to support strong measures that shield the African youth from the harm of tobacco products—and deceptive advertising practices of the tobacco industry,” she said.
As the fight against tobacco use continues, WHO says it remains committed to working with governments to accelerate momentum in tobacco control efforts and protect young people from the harms of tobacco products.
“As an organization, we encourage countries to accelerate their implementation of the WHO FCTC with stringent measures on marketing new and emerging tobacco and nicotine products, particularly designed to appeal to youth. These include shisha, e-cigarettes (flavored products), nicotine pouches, and others that are aggressively promoted through social media platforms,” added.