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Mauritius News

Mauritius Marks World No-Tobacco Day 2025 with Youth-Focused Awareness Campaign

Mauritius commemorated World No-Tobacco Day on 02 June 2025, engaging nursing, medical, and university students in a campaign aimed at raising awareness about the tobacco industry's evolving marketing tactics—particularly those targeting young people. The event sought to alert the youth to the dangers of new nicotine products and strategies designed to initiate addiction and promote harmful smoking habits. Participants were warned about flavoured tobacco and nicotine products, which are engineered to reduce the harshness of tobacco and increase its appeal. Special attention was drawn to the rise of electronic nicotine delivery systems and other sophisticated, attractive devices that are aggressively marketed to young people, luring them into addiction at the expense of their health and future. Minister of Health and Wellness, Hon. Anil Kumar Bachoo, reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to combating the tobacco epidemic in Mauritius. He highlighted the government's ongoing efforts to prevent smoking initiation and to support those seeking to quit. The Minister proudly referenced the WHO Director-General’s Special Recognition Award, which he received from Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the 78th World Health Assembly in May 2025, acknowledging Mauritius’ global leadership in tobacco control. “We shall leave no stone unturned to make Mauritius a country where no one dies from a preventable disease,” declared Minister Bachoo.
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Mauritius Marks World No-Tobacco Day 2025 with Youth-Focused Awareness Campaign

Mauritius commemorated World No-Tobacco Day on 02 June 2025, engaging nursing, medical, and university students in a campaign aimed at raising awareness about the tobacco industry's evolving marketing tactics—particularly those targeting young people. The event sought to alert the youth to the dangers of new nicotine products and strategies designed to initiate addiction and promote harmful smoking habits. Participants were warned about flavoured tobacco and nicotine products, which are engineered to reduce the harshness of tobacco and increase its appeal. Special attention was drawn to the rise of electronic nicotine delivery systems and other sophisticated, attractive devices that are aggressively marketed to young people, luring them into addiction at the expense of their health and future. Minister of Health and Wellness, Hon. Anil Kumar Bachoo, reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to combating the tobacco epidemic in Mauritius. He highlighted the government's ongoing efforts to prevent smoking initiation and to support those seeking to quit. The Minister proudly referenced the WHO Director-General’s Special Recognition Award, which he received from Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the 78th World Health Assembly in May 2025, acknowledging Mauritius’ global leadership in tobacco control. “We shall leave no stone unturned to make Mauritius a country where no one dies from a preventable disease,” declared Minister Bachoo.
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WHO Director General recognizes Mauritius unwavering efforts to control tobacco

Today, the World Health Organization proudly celebrates Mauritius for its relentless and resolute commitments to tobacco control. The country is being recognized with the prestigious WHO Director General Special Recognition Award as part of World No-Tobacco Day 2025. On this Monday 19 May 2025, at the very onset of the 78th World Health Assembly, The Honorable Anil Kumar Bachoo, Minister of Health and Wellness received the Award directly from the hand of the WHO Director General in recognition of Mauritius exceptional efforts in tobacco control. This recognition comes as no surprise. The World Health Organization has long regarded Mauritius as a Global Champion in the fight against tobacco. Mauritius has demonstrated sustained leadership since 2003, supporting the establishment of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). In 2004, the Republic of Mauritius became one of the first parties to ratify the Framework Convention. By 2008, the country had introduced its first WHO FCTC-compliant tobacco control regulations, mandating pictorial health warnings on cigarette packaging and implementing a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship — a pioneering move in Africa.
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Strengthening the Health System in Rodrigues Island: Development of a Health Master ...

Rodrigues Island is taking a bold step towards transforming its healthcare system to meet the evolving needs of its population in the context of the World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting the Health Commission of Rodrigues to develop a comprehensive Health Master Plan that will shape a stronger, more resilient, and more equitable health system for the island. From 21st to 25th April 2025, a joint WHO mission led by Dr. Yaarthi Soopal Lutchmun, Integrated Service Delivery Officer, and Dr. Gilbert Buckle, Health Policy Advisor, was conducted to support this important endeavor. Guided by the Health Commission, the WHO delegation visited health facilities, performed desk review of data and relevant reports, and key informant interviews with health professionals, administrative cadres, civil societies and representative from the community to ensure a holistic understanding and analysis of the current health system. The Health Master Plan will focus on strengthening Primary Health Care (PHC), modernizing infrastructure, optimizing service delivery, and ensuring that health services are sustainable, inclusive, and people centered. This effort aligns with Rodrigues’ contribution to the upcoming Health Sector Strategic Plan (HSSP) 2025–2030 for Mauritius, ensuring that the island’s unique priorities are integrated into national health planning. Through strong partnership stakeholder engagement, and a shared vision, Rodrigues is paving the way toward a future where every individual has access to quality healthcare, close to home. "Building a Stronger, Healthier Rodrigues — Together for the Future!"
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WHO Representative discussed national health priorities with His Excellency, the Pr...

It was a real honor and pleasure for the WHO Representative to meet the new President of the Republic of Mauritius. The WHO Representative, Dr A. Ancia and His Excellency Mr D. Gokhool covered the three main areas of WHO’s work: to promote, provide and protect health and well-being for everyone, everywhere. Our common understanding of Health as a socio-economic construct said enabled us to discuss the imperative to engage all sectors in addressing the risk factors of, and controlling the most prevalent diseases in Mauritius including: 1. Promoting healthy diet and physical activity, while reducing the high consumption of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs and “junk food” in a multidisciplinary manner and ensuring that we particularly empower the Mauritian youth to embark on healthier behaviors for disease prevention; 2. Providing opportunities for systematic screening and early diagnostic to ensure early and more effective treatment, for the chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer, to ensure better health outcomes and avoid overwhelming of the health facilities and health professionals; and 3. Enhancing and institutionalizing the whole country capacities to prepare, early detect and warn, and to respond effectively and swiftly to public health emergencies in the same way as when dealing with torrential rain and cyclones. “We feel this first encounter with His Excellency Mr D. Gokhool is the starting point of a strong partnership with the Office of the President in our mission to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable”,said Dr A. Ancia.
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Rodrigues receives training on integrated care for older people

Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE), a comprehensive approach to providing person-centred care to older people in the context of an ageing population, attained a fresh milestone with the completion of a sensitization campaign and training of trainers (ToT) in Rodrigues in September 2024.

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Safety of patients and healthcare professionals at heart of second national Infectio...

Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), the evidence-based approach to protecting patients and healthcare workers from avoidable infections, is universally recognized as one of the cornerstones of a safe and effective health care delivery system. Thorough implementation of IPC practices not only reduces the risks of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), it also restricts the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which is emerging as a global health threat.

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Mauritius puts food safety high on the menu

As is the case for many Small Island Developing States, Mauritius imports the large majority of the food its population consumes, whilst also relying economically on exporting certain local foodstuffs. Ensuring the safety of its food imports and marketability of its exports is thus of vital importance to the country. The Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security and WHO Mauritius recently convened a workshop for the harmonization the country’s food legislation with Codex standards, an endeavour that carries significant benefits, both in terms of public health and trade opportunities.

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