Facts on tobacco use in the African Region, 2012
This document provides an overview of the tobacco epidemic in the African Region. Key articles in the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) are featured in the document along with a selection of findings from the Global Youth Tobacco Surveys (GYTS), the Global School Personnel Surveys (GSPS) and the Global Health Professions Student Surveys (GHPSS). These surveys were conducted by countries in the African Region since 1999.
Tobacco use kills nearly six million people each year, and more than 600 000 of these people are exposed to second-hand smoke. In fact, tobacco kills up to one half of all its users and remains one of the leading preventable causes of death.
Tobacco has no known health benefit. On the contrary, it causes disease, disability and premature death.
Tobacco control actions aim to substantially and continually reduce the prevalence of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke. The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) sets forth different tobacco control measures to be implemented in order to prevent people especially the youth from starting to use tobacco; help current tobacco users to quit and; protect non-smokers from exposure to second-hand smoke.
Strengthening the implementation of the WHO FCTC is one of the big challenges for countries in the African Region. Developing comprehensive tobacco control legislation and building capacity for its effective enforcement are crucial for Member States of the Region.
