Banjul, 1 June 2012 -- “Smoking kills” “By smoking, you are committing suicide” “Say No to tobacco”. These were some of the slogans teachers and students of Brufut Lower Basic School (BLBS) and the local community sang as they took to the streets of Brufut village to commemorate World No-Tobacco Day.

This year’s commemoration is a joint initiative of the WHO Country Office, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, BLBS, civil society groups and anti-tobacco activists, and was hosted by BLBS in her capacity as one of the winners of the 2012 World No-Tobacco Day Award in the WHO African Region.

However, BLBS did go beyond mere words in commemorating this year’s event. The school’s 2000 students and 70 teachers once again demonstrated their resolve to making the Gambia a tobacco free society by first declaring their immediate environment – BLBS - a “No Tobacco Zone”.

It must be noted that over 50% of smokers among the BLBS teaching staff have stopped smoking following the establishment of the school’s “Anti-Tobacco and Drug Club” in 2011, barely seven months ago. On a more encouraging note, one of the school’s long- term smokers, who confessed to have been smoking for over two decades, publicly declared his intention to quit the habit with effect from 31 May 2012.

The Headmistress, Mrs Sajo Kassama, and country’s veteran anti-tobacco activist, former recipient of the Award and author of the 1998 Prohibition of Smoking (Public Places) Act and now staff member of BLBS, Idrissa Samba, added their weight to the anti-tobacco campaign initiated by the school. Both of them promised to do all it takes to nurture, maintain and sustain this noble cause in the school and beyond, with the ultimate goal of creating a tobacco-free nation.

The WHO Representative, Dr Thomas Sukwa, who also presented the Award to the school on behalf of the WHO, thanked staff and students of BLBS for their outstanding tobacco control initiatives. Dr Sukwa also recognized the positive role of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education in creating conducive learning and healthy environments in the schools, without which BLBS would not have won this prestigious Award.

He urged the school to strive to maintain and sustain this momentum, and not to be derailed by the counter-productive tobacco marketing strategies of the tobacco companies. Dr Sukwa echoed a similar message in a televised statement conveying statement of the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Gomes Sambo, on the eve of the Day

This statement clearly draws attention to the negative effects of tobacco as well as article 5.3 of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), which urges countries to protect their tobacco control policies from tobacco company interference.

In the same vein, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mr Momodou Lamin Ceesay, who deputized for the Honorable Health Minister, reaffirmed his ministry’s commitment to upholding the protocols of the WHO FCTC.

According to Mr Ceesay, “the Gambia has already started implementing the WHO FCTC since its ratification in June 2007. The Permanent Secretary cited the mandatory health warnings imposed on all tobacco products destined for use in the Gambia as one of the concrete steps his ministry has taken in implementing the WHO FCTC.

In conclusion the Permanent Secretary called on sister Ministries to continue to enforce the declaration of no smoking in all work places under their jurisdictions.

In addition to the official statements, students and local traditional drama groups displayed their talents in drama and songs on tobacco and its associated hazards. Hundreds of people from different walks of life attended the ceremony, which was rated as one of the most successful World No-Tobacco Days observed in the country.

Gambia observes World No-Tobacco Day

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For more details please contact:

Mr. Momodou Gassama, Health Promotion Officer-9331961 Ext. 30805, Office: 00220 4462283/84/86

Mr. George Williams-Health Information Assistant-9900248 Ext.30808

The WHO Gambia Office, New Kotu Layout P.M.B 170, Banjul, The GAMBIA