Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of disease, disability and death. Smoking is responsible for 90% of lung cancer, 70% of chronic bronchitis and emphysema; and 25% of ischemic heart disease. Moreover, money spent on tobacco is often money that can be better spent on vital needs such as shelter, education and food. The economic impact of disability, lost productivity and early deaths due to tobacco contributes to the burden of poverty, retarding national development and further widening health inequities. Thus, tobacco control is not only a public health priority but also a key development issue.
The theme for World No Tobacco Day this year is: The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The Convention was adopted in response to the globalization of the tobacco epidemic including the high and increasing toll of tobacco-related disease and death, especially in the low- and middle-income countries. The treaty aims to protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke. In force since 2005, the WHO Framework Convention currently has more than 170 Parties of which 41 are from the African Region.
The WHO Framework Convention is international law. It confers legal obligations on countries and uses both demand and supply reduction measures related to tobacco control. The treaty has also institutionalized international cooperation including supporting low- and middle-income countries to meet their obligations under the Convention. These obligations include protecting public health policies from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry; adopting price and tax measures to reduce the demand for tobacco; protecting people from exposure to tobacco smoke; regulating the packaging and labelling of tobacco products; banning tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; and promoting cessation of tobacco use and adequate treatment for tobacco dependence as well as promotion of clinical best practices. Other obligations include controlling the illicit trade in tobacco products and supporting economically viable alternatives to tobacco growing.
The WHO Framework Convention and its guidelines provide the foundation for countries to implement effective tobacco control policies and manage tobacco control programmes. Member States in the African Region are developing and enforcing tobacco control measures based on their obligations under the WHO Framework Convention. We have made good progress with 23 countries in our Region banning smoking in public places; 24 countries banning tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; 19 countries having developed and implementing a national tobacco control programme; and nine countries putting in place measures to prohibit accessing of tobacco products by minors. Although significant achievements have been recorded, much still needs to be done for the treaty to reach its full potential, e.g. in health warnings on tobacco product packaging where only five countries have met this obligation. This is largely because African countries are faced with some capacity challenges in translating the Convention into national law and successfully enforcing it at country level.
I urge Member States in our Region that have not yet ratified this treaty to do so urgently and join the family of Parties to the Convention. The tobacco epidemic is global and certainly requires that we all take appropriate action to protect present and future generations.
I call on civil society and nongovernmental organizations to continue to advocate for and monitor full implementation of the treaty. Furthermore, I appeal to international partners to fully support countries as they implement the WHO Framework Convention.
To the general public I urge support for your governments as they strive to ratify or accede to the Convention and fulfil their obligations. Support countries to ratify or accede to the Convention by mobilizing public support for the treaty; by acting as advocates for a smoke-free environment; by guiding young people to appreciate the benefits of abstaining from tobacco use; and by supporting higher taxation of tobacco products to reduce tobacco use. I urge you to start in your own families and communities by being a good role model for young people. When you are more aware of the treaty and its benefits, you can inspire better implementation of tobacco control policies.
Today, on World No Tobacco Day 2011, I would like to emphasize that this treaty is good for protecting public health; it is good for increasing government revenue collection; it is good for preserving the environment; and it is good for helping tobacco growers to shift to alternative activities.
As we commemorate this World No Tobacco Day, let us keep in mind that the WHO Framework Convention remains our best chance of achieving what could become the largest positive impact on health in this century.
I thank you.