WHO launches new tobacco control effort in Africa

The World Health Organization is increasing its attention to tobacco control in Africa with the overall goal of preventing tobacco use from becoming as prevalent there as it is in other parts of the world. The focus of the programme will be on strengthening countries' ability to implement the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), the international health treaty that guides national efforts to counter the tobacco epidemic, and the establishment of a regional centre of excellence to support the development of countries' capacity to resist the spread of tobacco use. "Tobacco use is the most preventable cause of illness and death," said WHO Assistant Director-General for Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health Dr Ala Alwan. "It kills more than 5 million people per year. Unchecked, it will kill more than 8 million people per year by 2030, with more than 80% of those deaths occurring in developing countries. Although tobacco use is less prevalent in Africa than in other regions of the world, that will change unless we act." Tobacco use is a risk factor for the major noncommunicable diseases - heart attacks, strokes, cancers, diabetes and asthma and other chronic diseases - which together account for 60% of all deaths. In the 46 countries of WHO's Africa region (AFRO), noncommunicable diseases are expected to account for 46% of deaths by 2030, up from 25% in 2004