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We will scale up efforts to control tobacco, including full implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control’
That was the pledge made by Dr. Margaret Chan, the WHO Director-General elect in her acceptance speech on 9th November, 2006. Dr. Chan beat 12 other candidates to the post, including Dr. Julio Frenk, the Mexican Health Minister who entered into a controversial agreement with the tobacco industry in 2004.
But just why is it very important that the head of the World Health Organsiation be strongly committed to tobacco control?
Here is why:
Tobacco is a serious international health problem, claiming 5 million lives a year world wide. Tobacco use killed one hundred million people in the 20th century, and if current trends continue, it will claim one billion lives in the 21st century. In the coming decades, 70% of those deaths will occur in developing countries. The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) is the first global public health treaty and the first treaty negotiated under the auspices of the World Health Organisation. The FCTC aims to protect people from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco through comprehensive tobacco advertising bans, price and tax increases, health warning labels on tobacco products and measures to protect people from secondhand smoke, among other tobacco control strategies.
The implementation of this treaty will greatly reduce the toll of death and disease caused by tobacco use, and will, in part, depend on the commitment of the parties, whose currently stands at 141. WHO's commitment and technical support is crucial for full and effective implementation of the international tobacco treaty.
Therefore, as the new technical and administrative head of WHO, Dr. Chan has a key role to play in potentially reducing the global health burden caused by tobacco. Her experience in tobacco control includes the setting up of a national tobacco control office in Hong Kong. Dr. Chan also participated in the development of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, representing her native country, China, as Vice Chair of the FCTC Working Group. Click here to read Dr. Chan’s views on tobacco control related matters.
HERO-Uganda congratulates Dr. Chan on her new appointment and urges her to maintain her strong commitment to the full implementation of the FCTC as she leads the WHO.
Dr. Margeret Chan’s recognition of the health burden suffered by women and people in Africa, is commendable.
"what matters most to me is people. And two specific groups of people in particular. I want us to be judged by the impact we have on the health of the people of Africa, and the health of women.”
Dr. Chan, WHO and its member states must keep in mind that Africa and women are indeed targets of the tobacco industry.
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