Addis Ababa, 4 December -- State Minister Dr Kebede Worku, Federal Ministry of Health, announced yesterday at the “Get Involved in Tobacco Control” high level advocacy workshop in Addis Ababa that Ethiopia will soon ratify the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). WHO FCTC is the first international treaty negotiated in response to the globalization of the tobacco epidemic. The Convention represents a milestone for the promotion of public health and provides new legal dimensions for international health cooperation.

The workshop, jointly organized by the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), the Food, Medicine and Health Care Administration and Control Authority of Ethiopia (FMHACA), and the World Health Organization (WHO) brought together parliamentarians, government officials, civil society representatives and the media to discuss the current situation and response against the major health threat, tobacco. The workshop advocated for the ratification of the FCTC and implementation of legal frameworks for prevention of tobacco use, including the creation of smoke-free public places and workplaces.

Dr Kebede Worku, State Minister of the Federal Ministry of Health, said that Ethiopia’s health policy pays special attention to tobacco control, assuring that the WHO FCTC will be soon ratified. “The general public and stakeholders should be involved in tobacco control – thus playing an active role especially in the translation of legislations and regulations into concrete practices,” he continued. In his key note address, Mr Mengisteab Woldearegay, Deputy Director of FMHACA emphasized that tobacco affects the health of the entire human body with the consequent social and economic problems. He stressed that ongoing efforts at all levels of the health system should be strengthened, including the ratification of the WHO FCTC.

“As part of the global action for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), both FMHACA and FMoH have made enormous contributions surmount the most challenging public health issue facing the country today,” said Dr Abebayehu Assefa on behalf of the WHO Country Office for Ethiopia. He stressed that present and future generations must be protected from the serious health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure. Sixty-three per cent of all deaths worldwide are caused by NCDs, for which tobacco use is one of the greatest risk factors.

The workshop that deliberated on several issues critical for expansion of tobacco control efforts in the nation concluded to establish a National Multi-Sectoral Coordination Mechanism to sustainably and effectively address the growing threat of tobacco impacts.

 01 Participants At The High Level Advocacy Workshop On Tobacco Control In Addis Ababa 3 December 2013 02 Participants At The High Level Advocacy Workshop On Tobacco Control In Addis Ababa 3 December 2013
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For more information, please contact:

Wassihun Melaku, Health Promotion Officer,
belayw [at] who.int, +251 919 795 722;

Viivi Erkkilä, Communications Officer,
erkkilav [at] et.afro.who.int, Tel: +251 936 811 947.