World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) is commemorated every year across the globe on 31st May with the aim to raise awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco use and second-hand smoke exposure, plus to discourage the use of tobacco in any form.
The day is further marked to draw attention to the widespread prevalence of tobacco use and its negative health effects, which currently lead to more than eight million deaths each year worldwide, including 1.2 million, are the result of non-smokers being exposed to second-hand smoke.
Centering this, WHO every year recognizes individuals or organizations in each of its six regions (Africa, Americas, Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, South-East Asia, and Western Pacific), for their accomplishments in the area of tobacco control. This recognition, as it is learnt, takes the form of WHO Director-General Special Recognition Award and World No Tobacco Day Awards.
In essence of this, hence, of African Region awardees, Heran Gerba Borta, Director General of the Ethiopian Food and Drug Administration (EFDA) , is the one who won the Award for effort in leading the tobacco control.
According to Abera Deneke, Communication Director of the Authority, efforts are on progress both at the higher leadership and the lower level to create tobacco free areas, cut the number of tobacco users and discourage the new ones.
As to him, various efforts have been undertaken to cut the trend of smoking habits, reduce tobacco and tobacco related consumption thereby minimize its adverse health and social impacts and economic costs. Ranging from ratifying WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) to introducing new anti-tobacco laws, the country has made significant strides against use of tobacco.
As a result, smoking in public and work places, such as schools, workplaces, recreational areas, government facilities as well as in all means of public transport, is wholly prohibited, tobacco advertising and promotions plus the sale of flavored tobacco products.
Not only that, the law also bans the sale of heated tobacco products, e-cigarettes and shisha, and prohibits tobacco sales to anyone under the age of 21.
As to him, all indirect or direct forms of tobacco advertising and promotion are prohibited. However, the law excludes legitimate forms of expression recognized by the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines that could be construed as advertising, such as trade newsletters, legitimate journalist or artistic expression, among other things. All forms of financial or other tobacco sponsorship are prohibited.
According to him, the law and other similar rules and regulations have moved forward country’s anti-tobacco effort and it is enabled to reduce its ill-effect on the public though it is not sufficient and lots of assignments remain undone.
Indeed, the law has brought significant change with regard to the interdiction of smoking in public spheres and all indirect or direct forms of tobacco advertisings and promotions. However, still there are public areas where cigarettes are smoked freely particularly among the young generation. The reason behind this, unquestionably, is lack of awareness about the set law. The Authority, along with civil society, stakeholders, should play role in this regard- to sensitizing the rules and regulations accordingly and aware the ill impacts of cigarettes on health
As it is learnt, in the 2021 World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) of the African regions, apart from Heran Gerba, Professor Bontle Mbongwe, Anti-Tobacco Network, Republic of Botswana. Ministère de la Santé et de la Solidatité Nationale, Republic of Chad, Anne Kendagor, Acting Head of the Division of Tobacco Control, Ministry of Health, Republic of Kenya. The Eye Opener Women & Youth Foundation, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Crescence Mukantabana, Founder and Executive Director, Reseau de Developpement des Femmes Pauvres (RDFP), Republic of Rwanda are the fellow braves who had shown a bold performance in controlling tobacco.
This yearly celebration informs the public on the dangers of using tobacco, the business practices of tobacco companies, what WHO is doing to fight the tobacco epidemic, and what people around the world can do to claim their right to health and healthy living and to protect future generations.
World No Tobacco Day was created by the Member States of the World Health Organization in 1987 to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and the preventable death and disease it causes.
In 1987, the World Health Assembly passed Resolution WHA40.38, calling for 7 April 1988 to be “a world no-smoking day.” In 1988, Resolution WHA42.19 was passed, calling for the celebration of World No Tobacco Day, every year on 31 May.
As to studies, tobacco causes millions of deaths every year. When evidence was released this year that smokers were more likely to develop severe disease with COVID-19 compared to non-smokers, it triggered millions of smokers to want to quit tobacco. Quitting can be challenging, especially with the added social and economic stress that have come as a result of the pandemic, but there are a lot of reasons to quit.
The day has been met with both enthusiasm and resistance around the globe from governments, public health organizations, smokers, growers, and the tobacco industry.
Since 1988, the WHO has presented one or more awards to organizations or individuals who have made exceptional contributions to reducing tobacco consumption.
This year World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) 2021 will be celebrated with a theme and year-long global campaign ‘Commit to Quit’.
BY MENGISTEAB TESHOME
