The World Health Organization's Tobacco Free Initiative (TFI) was established in 1998 to focus and channel international attention, resources, and action to reduce the global burden of disease and death caused by tobacco use. TFI provides global policy leadership, encouraging mobilization at all levels of society, promoting the WHO Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC).
Tobacco use is the second major cause of death in the world today. In the 20th century, the tobacco epidemic killed 100 million people worldwide. Unless urgent action is taken during the 21st century,
it could kill 1 billion people. Some 80 per cent of these deaths will occur in developing countries.
One third of the world's smokers reside in the Western Pacific Region, where it is estimated that two people die every minute from a tobacco‑related disease. Compared with other WHO regions, the Western Pacific has the greatest number of smokers, among the highest rates of male smoking prevalence, and the fastest increase of tobacco use uptake by women and young people. Recent research shows that up to 50% of all young people in the Region are regularly exposed to tobacco smoke pollution in their homes.
News and Press Releases
WPRO Recognizes Tobacco Control Champions on World No Tobacco Day 2011
26 May 2011
Manila - The theme for World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) 2011 is the "WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control".
Countries are preparing advocacy events for full implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, including public gatherings, fun-runs, awarding events and media campaigns.
The regional launch will be held in Hong Kong (China) on 29 May. The Regional Director, Dr Shin Young-soo, will present the WHO Director-General's Special Recognition Award to Secretary of Food and Health Dr York Chow, who is cited for his leadership and courage in implementing comprehensive tobacco control in Hong Kong.
The ceremony will be at a special regional WNTD launching ceremony at the Mira Hotel. Dr Shin will then join the Smoke-free Community Promotion Campaign Launch Ceremony hosted by the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health.
Dr Shin will then go on to Canberra, Australia, to participate in the WNTD 2011 event on 31 May at the Parliament House, hosted by the Australian Council on Smoking and Health. He will present the WHO Director-General's Special Recognition Certificate to the Honourable Nicola Roxon, Australia's Minister for Health and Ageing, for her leadership in pushing for plain packaging of tobacco products in 2012.
Other awardees for WNTD 2011 are: His Excellency Mam Bun Heng, Minister of Health, Kingdom of Cambodia; Dr Ly Ngoc Kinh, Senior Consultant and Former Director, Standing Office of Viet Nam Steering Committee on Smoking and Health (VINACOSH), Ministry of Health, Viet Nam; and the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance, Philippines (FCAP). Click HERE for more information on this year's WNTD Awardees.
Viet Nam Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) Release
10 November 2010
Hanoi - The Ministry of Health (MOH), in collaboration with the Hanoi Medical University, General Statistics Office, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), CDC Foundation, and the World Health Organization (WHO), held the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) Data Release Workshop in Hanoi on 27 October 2010. Viet Nam became the 14th country worldwide to have completed the survey, and is the third country in the Western Pacific Region, along with China and the Philippines, to have completed GATS. Speaking at the workshop, Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Thi Xuyen said that the survey results would help the MOH develop effective tobacco control policies. GATS is supported by the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use, a programme funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies in collaboration with WHO, CDC, CDC Foundation, RTI International, and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Related Links:
Viet Nam GATS Country Report 2010
Viet Nam GATS Factsheet
Using the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) for Local Action in the Philippines: Tobacco-Free Plan-It
10 September 2010
Manila - Tobacco-Free Plan-It is a capacity building package for local and sub-national action on tobacco control. It is designed to sensitize local health authorities and stakeholders on tobacco control and how to prioritize actions in cities, towns, municipalities, districts and provinces. Using a total quality management improvement framework, teams are guided in using data and evidence for action. Tools are provided to assist in prioritizing and selecting interventions to curb the tobacco epidemic through policy advocacy, regulations, laws, enforcement, programmes and services.
Tobacco-Free Plan-It has been piloted in the Philippines by the National Epidemiology Center of the Department of Health in partnership with the Tobacco-Free Initiative, WHO Philippines and in the Western Pacific. It is a followup activity to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) and seeks to engage local partners in dissemination of the GATS, institutionalization of local tobacco surveillance systems and encourages local governments to benchmark progress against national indicators. Efforts are underway to share this work in China and Viet Nam.
The materials are adapted from Healthy Plan-It, as developed by the Sustainable Management Development Programme (SMDP) of the US Centres for Disease Prevention and Control.
Related Links:
Tobacco Free Plan-It Participant's Manual
Philippines GATS Country Report (2009)
Upcoming Meetings and Events
World No Tobacco Day 2011 - The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
31 May 2011
Recent Meetings and Events
Global Health Professions Student Survey Policy and Programme Workshop on Tobacco Control
Manila, Philippines, 16-18 May 2011
Fourth Session of the Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
Punta del Este, Uruguay, 15-20 November 2010
Meeting on a Training Network on Child and Adolescent Health and Tobacco Control
Manila, Philippines, 9-10 December 2010
GYTS/GSPS Training and Analysis Workshop
Manila, Philippines, 27-31 August 2010
Workshop on Indicators for Tobacco Control
Manila, Philippines, 23-25 August 2010
Regional Training Workshop on Tobacco Taxation
Manila, Philippines, 23-25 June 2010
World No Tobacco Day 2010 - Gender and Tobacco
31 May 2010
Fourth Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body on a Protocol on Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products
Geneva, Switzerland, 14 to 21 March 2010