Tobacco - Overview

Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of death in the world. Tobacco control actions will prevent young people from starting to use tobacco, help current tobacco users to quit and protect non-smokers from exposure to second-hand smoke.

Strengthening the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control -that is ratified or accessed by 39 out of the 46 countries in the African region- is one of the big challenges for countries in the African region. Developing comprehensive tobacco control legislation and building capacity for its effective enforcement are crucial for the Member states in the region.

Countries in the African region are experiencing an increasing rate of tobacco use. The prevalence of tobacco use in African countries is between 8 to 43% for boys and 5 to 30% for girls. The fast growth of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa is leading to larger and more accessible markets and an increasing of the African consumers’ purchasing power. In addition to that there are the intensive efforts by the tobacco industry to expand African markets.

Prevention is clearly the most cost-effective measure. Comprehensive monitoring informs the governments and civil society on how the tobacco epidemic harms their countries, and helps them to allocate tobacco control resources where they are most needed and will be most effective.

Previous events:

World No Tobacco Day 2011

Press Release

Dr Sambo urges all countries in the African Region to ratify and implement the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control