Walk Program to Commemorate World No Tobacco Day
The World No Tobacco Day was observed on May 31, 2010 here in Ethiopia. The following activities were carried out to observe the day.
1. Ayer Amba School Program
Our society together with Ayer Amba School conducted a program to evaluate the on-going Anti-Tobacco Campaign in the school for the last two years. The school widely considered to be one of the best performers of the ten schools participated in the campaign. Members of Anti-Drug Committee of the school encouraged by their marvelous achievement and the support they are enjoying from the administration of the school, organized a program to share their experience to representatives of more than 20 schools within the vicinity of Bole District. After reviewing their presentation and achievement, we are planning to organize half day program in which not only representatives of 20 schools, but invited guests from Ministry of Health, Drug Administration and Control Authority (DACA) and others will be invited to review and evaluate their achievement. An effort being started to declare the school as a tobacco free compound, of the 86 school staff only one teacher is suspected of smoking.
Some of the activities carried out by students of Ayer Amba School, here in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
2. Panel Discussion
Drug Administration & Control Authority sponsored by WHO regional office organized discussion on tobacco particularly on how to increase tobacco control here in Ethiopia. The discussion was presented by Radio Fana, local radio station on May 26, 2010 and followed by live program on May 28, 2010.Active participation of the general public involving question and answers, turned the program in to one of inspirational one. From the feedback we are receiving many people for the first time came to realize that the devastating health problems the tobacco cause and effect of second hand smoke on the family and particularly the children. Many people were furious and angry by the new attempts in which Women are a major target of opportunity for the tobacco industry, which needs to recruit new users to replace the nearly half of current users who will die prematurely from tobacco-related diseases. They recommended that this kind of tobacco health warnings should be continuously presented to enhance the public awareness to challenge the growing impact of tobacco here in Ethiopia.
Panel discussion underway.
The World Health Organization (WHO) selected "Gender and tobacco with an emphasis on marketing to women" as the theme for the next World No Tobacco Day, which took place on 31 May 2010.
Controlling the epidemic of tobacco among women is an important part of any comprehensive tobacco control strategy. World No Tobacco Day 2010 was designed to draw particular attention to the harmful effects of tobacco marketing towards women and girls. It highlighted the need for the nearly 170 Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to ban all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship in accordance with their constitutions or constitutional principles.
Women comprise about 20% of the world's more than 1 billion smokers. However, the epidemic of tobacco use among women is increasing in some countries. Women are a major target of opportunity for the tobacco industry, which needs to recruit new users to replace the nearly half of current users who will die prematurely from tobacco-related diseases.
Especially troubling is the rising prevalence of tobacco use among girls. The new WHO report, Women and health: today's evidence, tomorrow's agenda, points to evidence that tobacco advertising increasingly targets girls. Data from 151 countries show that about 7% of adolescent girls smoke cigarettes as opposed to 12% of adolescent boys. In some countries, almost as many girls smoke as boys.
The WHO Framework Convention, which took effect in 2005, expresses alarm at "the increase in smoking and other forms of tobacco consumption by women and young girls worldwide".Although the World No Tobacco Day 2010 campaign focused on tobacco marketing to women, it also took into account the need to protect boys and men from the tobacco companies' tactics. Tobacco use could kill one billion people during this century. Recognizing the importance of reducing tobacco use among women, and acting upon that recognition, would save many lives.
Based on the recommendation we are receiving we are planning to strengthen the on-going Anti-Tobacco Campaign and encourage all stakeholders to coordinate and strengthen the various tobacco control related activities. Despite a recently growing number of young smokers, Ethiopia still has one of the lowest smoking populations in the world. About 2.5% of Ethiopia’s population smoke. The global youth tobacco survey, carried out in 2003 by the World Health Organization (WHO), found that 9 % of students interviewed at school in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia smoke tobacco of some form. Tobacco use is widely spreading in urban areas and among the youth population which need to be challenged before it gets out of hand and become a major problem like most developing countries.
Though Ethiopia is a signatory of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), it has not yet ratified the convention yet. Hence, rampant smoking in most public places is a common practice and most passive smokers do not react to it. There have never been any vocal activists for the designation of smoking and non smoking zones so far. Passive smoking has played a central role in the debate over the harms and regulation of tobacco products. Perhaps prompted by the impact of second hand smoke, about 75 countries around the world have banned smoking in public areas by creating smoking zones. Thanks to our recent concerted and continuous effort the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), final draft has developed and expected to be presented to the Council of Ministers, then to Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia House of Representatives for ratification. Ratification of framework convention is overdue, expected to be implemented very soon.
3. Walk Program
Walk program to commemorate World No Tobacco Day was held on June 7, 2010 here at Meskel Square. The walk program started from Drug Administration and Control (DACA) Office and proceeded to Meskel square, the total length of the walk is estimated to be about three kilometers. Hundredth of students from many schools and invited guests actively participated.
Dr.Kebede Worku, State Minister of Health of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia was Guest of Honor. Dr Fatoumata NAFO-TRAORE World Health Organization (WHO) Country Director together with representatives of our society, many government and non-government organizations and invited guests attended the program. According to the DACA released information World No Tobacco Day was observed here for 21st time.
Mr.Yehulu Denekew, General Manager of DACA presenting welcoming speech.
Mr.Wondu Bekele, General Manager of MWECS, was one of Guest Speakers of the program.
Dr.Fatoumata NAFO-TRAORE World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative delivering WHO Africa Regional Office Director’s Message.
Dr.Kebede Worku, State Minister of Health of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia presenting closing remarks.
From left to right, Dr.Kebede Worku State Minister of Health, Dr.Fatoumata NAFO-TRAORE World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative and Mr.Wondu Bekele, General Manager of MWECS.
Walk program in progress.