The Ministry of Health (MoH) in Uganda with support from World Health Organization (WHO) commemorated World No Tobacco Day 2018 (WNTD) with a message urging the community to stop tobacco consumption and seek regular medical checkup to know their health status. The commemoration held under this year's theme; "Tobacco Breaks Heart" kicked off with a procession to raise awareness about the effects of tobacco on health from Kanyana Police Station and later a public awareness gathering at Mpererwe Trading Centre in Kampala. During the event, MoH and partners highlighted the many health impacts of tobacco use and specifically its effect on the causes of cardiovascular diseases calling on the community to stop the use of Tobacco.

The tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest public health threats killing more than 7 million people each year. 1 in every 10 heart diseases deaths is Tobacco-related and half of all tobacco users die prematurely from tobacco-related causes. 

The Minister of State for Health in charge of Primary Health Care, Dr Joyce Kaducu Moriku, in her message for the day, called on the population to stop the use of tobacco products saying "tobacco affects the heart gravely. 12 percent of all heart diseases and heart-related deaths are related to passive smoking. We need to stop tobacco consumption." Dr Moriku further implored the local leaders to increase vigilance and watch out for alcohol and tobacco abuse in their communities and sensitise the members about the dangers. "Most of these diseases are preventable, we only need to ensure that our communities are informed and also abide by the law," she said.  

She commended the partners for the support rendered to the government to tackle tobacco use and enacting laws to tackle tobacco consumption, making reference to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), a treaty negotiated under the auspices of WHO promoting the right of all people to the highest standard of health.

The WHO Country Representative in Uganda Dr Yonas Tegegn Woldemariam was represented by Dr William Maina, who, relating to this year's theme asserted that Tobacco indeed breaks hearts. "In the African Region, about 146 000 adults aged 30 years and above die every year from tobacco-related diseases. When tobacco users die prematurely in their productive years, families lose loved ones and income, and economic development is negatively affected," he said. Dr Maina pointed out that policies that regulate tobacco, promote smoke-free environments and encourage people to quit smoking contribute to improving the health and well-being of all people, calling on the Ugandan government to enforce them.

World No Tobacco Day is a chance for governments and the public to take firm action. Effective measures to reduce tobacco demand which can be accomplished in a short time and at reasonable cost include increasing tobacco taxes and prices, which will save lives as well as generate money for governments. Other steps include creating completely smoke-free indoor workplaces and public places, instituting hard-hitting warnings and graphic pictures about the dangers of smoking on cigarette packaging, and banning tobacco advertisement, promotion and sponsorship.

In addition, every person can play a role in promoting healthy hearts by committing not to use tobacco, helping others to quit, and protecting all people, including family members, workers and children, from tobacco smoke.

The function attracted the participation of various stakeholders including Academia, Civil Society Organizations, media and development partners like WHO.