The theme for World No Tobacco Day 2016 is “Get ready for plain packaging.”
Every year, on 31 May, WHO and partners mark World No Tobacco Day (WNTD), highlighting the health risks associated with tobacco use and advocating for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption. For World No Tobacco Day 2016, we are calling on countries to get ready for plain (standardized) packaging of tobacco products.
Plain packaging of tobacco products refers to measures that restrict or prohibit the use of logos, colours, brand images or promotional information on packaging other than brand names and product names displayed in a standard colour and font style.
Plain packaging is an important demand reduction measure that reduces the attractiveness of tobacco products, restricts use of tobacco packaging as a form of tobacco advertising and promotion, limits misleading packaging and labelling, and increases the effectiveness of health warnings.
Winners of the 2016 World No Tobacco Day Awards in the African Region
Every year, the World Health Organization recognizes individuals or organizations from its six regions for their accomplishments in the area of tobacco control. The World No-Tobacco Day 2016 Award Winners from the African Region are:
Honourable Omar Sey, Minister of Health and Social Welfare, the Gambia;
Alliance Congolaise pour le Contrôle du Tabac (ACCT), Democratic Republic of Congo ;
Mr. François Habiyaremye , Rwanda;
Multi-sectorial Working Group for Tobacco Control, the Gambia;
Tobacco Control Board, Kenya.
These five award winners will be recognized for their outstanding contribution to tobacco control in their respective countries.