Zanzibar, 20 July 2017 - The World Health Organization Country Representative in Tanzania, Dr. Matthieu Kamwa, recently visited Zanzibar as part of the continuing WHO support.

During the visit, Dr. Kamwa participated in the official launch of the tobacco control regulations by the Deputy Minister of Health. The occasion took place in the MOH premises attended by the Principal Secretary, Ministry of Health, Director of Preventive Services, the Manager of non-communicable diseases and other senior government officials.

The tobacco control regulations were developed through broad-based participation and strategic partnership between health and other sectors under the technical leadership and guidance of the WHO. “We are happy to note that the Tobacco Control Regulations in Zanzibar provide clear restrictions to tobacco use in public places; tobacco advertisement, promotion and sponsorship; and packaging and labeling of tobacco products. We commend the Ministry of Health for ensuring that the regulations are WHO FCTC-compliant”, said Dr. Kamwa.

The Deputy Minister of Health, in her statement at the launch, declared the Ministry of Health premises smoking free areas and pledged to involve other sectors and workplaces to do the same. The Ministry committed to developing immediate, medium term and long term actions to implement the regulations. In addition, the Minister promised to implement other innovative tobacco control measures such as increasing taxes on tobacco products and reaching out to in- and out-of-school youth. 

Tobacco control legislation provides the authority to regulate the manufacture, distribution, and marketing of tobacco products, and ultimately control the tobacco epidemic. The task ahead is to fully enforce the legislation and to protect it from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry.