On 31 May, each year, the World commemorates the ‘World No Tobacco Day (WNTD)’. The WNTD was initiated by the World Health Organization (WHO) upon recognizing the health problems associated with tobacco use.
Much as there is an increasing awareness among the populations of the World, of the health hazards of tobacco, the apparent economic benefits of the tobacco trade, particularly in the cash strapped developing world are making the fight against tobacco to be a painfully long and hard process. Accordingly, the WHO selected the theme for this year to be "The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control" translated in Kiswahili as “Utekelezaji wa Mkataba wa Kimataifa wa Kudhibiti Matumizi ya Tumbaku”.
The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is the world's foremost tobacco control instrument. The first treaty ever negotiated under the auspices of WHO, it represents a signal achievement in the advancement of public health. In force only since 2005, it is already one of the most rapidly and widely embraced treaties in the history of the United Nations, with more than 170 Parties ratifying it. An evidence-based treaty, it reaffirms the right of all people to the highest standard of health and provides new legal dimensions for cooperation in tobacco control globally.
The world needs the WHO FCTC today, more than ever, as tobacco use continues to be the leading preventable cause of death. This year, more than 5 million people will die from a tobacco-related heart attack, stroke, cancer, lung ailment or other diseases. That does not include the more than 600,000 people – more than a quarter of them children – who will die from exposure to second-hand smoke.
The annual death toll from the global epidemic of tobacco use could rise to 8 million by 2030. Having killed 100 million people during the 20th century, tobacco use could kill 1 billion during the 21st century. Over 70 percent of tobacco related deaths will occur in developing countries like Tanzania.
As with any other treaty, the WHO FCTC confers legal obligations on its Parties, that is, on the countries that have formally acceded to it. Tanzania acceded WHO FCTC in 2007 and thereby becoming a member of the Conference of Parties (COPs). Tanzania’s obligations similar to other members include:
Protect public health policies from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry.
Adopt price and tax measures to reduce the demand for tobacco.
Protect people from exposure to tobacco smoke.
Regulate the contents of tobacco products.
Regulate tobacco product disclosures.
Regulate the packaging and labelling of tobacco products.
Warn people about the dangers of tobacco.
Ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.
Offer people help to end their addictions to tobacco.
Control the illicit trade in tobacco products.
Ban sales to and by minors.
Support economically viable alternatives to tobacco growing.
Importantly, the treaty also recognizes the importance of international cooperation and the need to help low income countries to meet their treaty obligations. Tanzania should use this opportunity to present its concern at the COPs on the short and medium term effect of tobacco control to the tobacco producing peasantry of Urambo, Chunya, Manyoni, Namtumbo, Iringa, Biharamulo and other districts who are likely to experience transient fall in tobacco demand. These districts need to introduce substitute crops or other means of livelihoods to sustain their economies and abolish tobacco farming.
Tanzania Public Health Association (TPHA) will join the WHO, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the general Public to commemorate WNTD at national level, in Bagamoyo. While TPHA acknowledges the Government of Tanzania, to have shown political will for protecting the Tanzanian population by acceding WHO FCTC in 2007, and congratulates the Ministry of Health and Socila Welfare for its efforts in enhancing awareness of the hazards of tobacco amidst strong adversaries within other ministerial sectors.
Nevertheless, TPHA is very disappointed with the current government’s extremely slow and tentative pace at which it is implementing WHO FCTC obligations. In our Association’s view, the government has not given this issue the priority it deserves, and therefore, between 2007 when it ratified FCTC and now, has failed to protect the people of Tanzania from health hazards induced by tobacco products, which are practically preventable, especially by failing to give directives and the necessary guidelines for its implementation.
In this context, TPHA calls upon the Government of the Republic of Tanzania, to fully implement the treaty it has committed itself to, on ratification, and give the health concerns of its people the topmost priority they deserve, over and above any financial gains that may be realized through revenues of the tobacco farming and tobacco trade.
TPHA also calls upon sister civil society organizations, local as well as international, and similar minded institutions working in Tanzania, to play their part to protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke.
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