Praia 31/05/2017 – Cabo Verde is raising more attention towards tobacco control and joined the rest of the World to remind us that “Tobacco is a threat to development", the theme of this year’s celebrations. Several activities, organized by the Ministry of Health and Social Security and the World Health Organization, took place all over the capital.

These actions were aimed at strengthening the fight against tobacco consumption, highlighting the associated health risks and raising awareness of the need to protect present and future generations.

According to a STEPS1 survey of chronic disease risk factors in Cabo Verde, carried out in 2007, the average age at which people start smoking is 19.5 years, 8.1% the percentage of people who smoke tobacco daily.

On the morning of the 31st, the Ministry of Health and Social Security held in partnership with the World Health Organization in Cabo Verde, a press conference to present the national situation of tobacco control, Tobacco Control Policies and Programs, and the country's engagement in global tobacco control, with a specific emphasis on the relationship between tobacco control and sustainable development.

The WHO National Administrator for Health Promotion, Dr. Edith Pereira, explained how tobacco use constitutes a major obstacle to sustainable development, with a widespread impact on health, poverty, the environment, governance, gender equality or education, amongst others.

WHO argues that not only must the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control be implemented, but measures such as raising tobacco taxes and prices must also be applied.

On his side, the representative of the Ministry of Health and Social Security and technical focal point for the WHO framework convention, Dr. José Teixeira, emphasized the constant attention that must to be paid to tobacco consumption and its consequences, and that must involve the Cabo Verdean society as a whole. He added that “at this time, the country meets the basic tobacco control requirements but they are still not enough to stop the epidemic”, particularly given the lack of up-to-date studies on prevalence and evidence of increased tobacco sales in the country.

"Cabo Verde is raising its attention to tobacco control, due to evidence of consumption growth in middle- and low-income countries. The country is working towards regulating the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, acceding to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, and towards the preparation of the National Strategic Plan for Tobacco Control in Cabo Verde.”

According to the MoH, the National Strategic Plan must orient measures that will cover eight areas of high impact, including:

1.       Measures to increase of Tobacco prices and taxes;

2.       Measures to restrict the access to tobacco products to young people. Cabo Verde has a law that prohibits the sale of alcohol near schools, but none for the sale of tobacco.

3.       Measures to eliminate illicit trade;

4.       Measures for the treatment of Nicotine addiction and dependency;

5.       Measures to develop programs for risk prevention and the promotion of healthy behaviors;

6.       Measures to improve packaging information on product contents and emissions;

7.       Measures to promote economic alternatives traditional subsistence production of tobacco;

8.       Measures to protect the population against exposure to passive tobacco smoke.

He concluded ty adding that the implementation of these measures implies the involvement of all in the fight against smoking and is a threat to all.

Cabo Verde is one 15 FCTC selected to receive direct support under the FCTC 2030 project (Framework Convention on Tobacco Control). The FCTC 2030 project will strengthen tobacco control in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) through promoting and supporting governments to accelerate the implementation of the WHO FCTC.

Many more activities took place during the day, such as marches against the use of tobacco and awareness-raising workshops organized by various Faith groups and schools. The Coordinator of the Program for the Prevention of NCDs of the MoH took part in a TV show to discuss the consequences of tobacco consumption, and representatives of the MoH took part in various other Radio shows. At the end of the Day, the MoH and WHO co-organized an aerobics and physical activity class, Dança Sem Tabacco (Dance without Tobacco), to promote a healthy and active lifestyle. The class was attended by over 150 people, including WHO staff.

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For additional information, please contact:

Ms. Vesna JOVIC, Communication and Health Promotion, Tel: (00238) 260 19 07 email: jovicv [at] who.int (jovicv[at]who[dot]int)