Dar es Salaam, 31 May 2017 - This year, the United Republic of Tanzania joined the world to commemorate World No Tobacco Day to raise awareness on health, additional risks and dangers associated with tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke. Commemorations under the theme "Tobacco – a threat to development" took place at the University of Dar es Salaam premises.

The Guest of Honour for the occasion was the Minister for Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children duly represented by Dr. Sarah Maongezi. Others who were present at the event were the representative for the Vice Chancellor of the University of Dar es Salaam, Ms. Mona Mwakalinga, Executive Director for the Tanzania Tobacco Control Forum, Ms. Lutgard Kagaruki; WHO staff, Ocean Road Cancer Institute staff, Representatives of various Civil Society Organisations supporting tobacco control efforts; University students; secondary and primary school students and members of the media.

Commemorations included the following activities:

A meeting at the Nkurumah Hall in the University of Dar es Salaam premises The audience was addressed by the representative for the Guest of Honor; the representative for the Vice Chancellor of the University of Dar es Salaam; WHO staff and the Executive Director of the Tanzania Tobacco Control Forum.

Speech by the Guest of Honour 

In her remarks, the Guest of Honour thanked the World Health Organization and thel stakeholders involved in the fight against tobacco use. Highlighting the successful efforts of the Government of Tanzania in the tobacco control, she cited the following:

• Existence of the 2003 Legislation on Tobacco Control which regulates public smoking, tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, and tobacco packaging and labeling
• The ratification to the FCTC in April 2007
• Enforcing regulations which ban tobacco use in government offices and urging institutions and organization to do the same in order to promote health at the work place

In conclusion, she expressed the commitment of the Tanzanian government to finalizing amendment of the Tobacco Control Act in line with the WHO FCTC provisions, enforcing smoke-free environments, and ensuring warnings on cigarette packets are in large prints on both sides; banning broadcasting of cigarette products on billboards alongside roads or on television or radio so as to reduce demand for tobacco among users. She further urged all stakeholders to invest in educating the public on the harmful effects of tobacco and in working together to control tobacco use in the country.

Messages from others

1. Dr. Neema Kileo on behalf of the WHO Representative for Tanzania delivered the WHO Regional Director’s remarks for the occasion. Restating the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), she said “the WHO FCTC is the world’s most powerful tool to tackle tobacco’s negative impact on development. In particular, increasing tobacco taxes and prices are proven and effective ways to reduce demand for tobacco by reducing its affordability”. She added that “this year’s theme is a timely call onto the government of Tanzania to fully implement the WHO FCTC, including raising tobacco taxes to reduce demand for tobacco. The revenue generated for governments can be used to finance universal health coverage, health promotion as well as other development programmes.” She concluded by reaffirming WHO’s commitment to strengthening its collaboration with governments to protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke.

2. The Executive Director for the Tanzania Tobacco Control Forum, Ms. Lutgard Kagaruki urged the government to control the tobacco epidemic, by protecting the nation from the harms of tobacco use and reducing its toll on the national economy. She also called on the government to support economically viable alternatives to tobacco production and restricting youth access to tobacco products, as part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce tobacco use.

Awareness creation activities

Tanzania Tobacco Control Forum displayed the WNTD infographics, coupled with health education through music. The school children displayed banners and shared a song conveying messages on hazards of tobacco use and urged the government to fully implement the provisions of the FCTC.

Media involvement was crucial in the success of the commemorations. A number of local TV, Radio programmes and newspaper articles were produced by different media houses to raise awareness on the on the dangers of tobacco and the need to support tobacco control to save lives and uplift development.

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For more information, please contact:

Media contacts:

Dr. Neema Kileo; Tel: +255 755 551 804; Email: kileon [at] who.int