The 17th World Conference on Tobacco or Health (WCTOH) to be held for the first time in Africa where tobacco industry interference is endemic

By Wallace Mawire [caption id="attachment_42219" align="alignleft" width="1023"] Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus[/caption] Organisers of the 17th World Conference on Tobacco or Health (WCTOH) ) to be held in Cape Town, South Africa, on 7 to 9 March in 2018, thave announced the attendance of WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, South Africa Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi and Michael R. Bloomberg, a leading actor on tobacco control and WHO Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases. For the past 50 years, WCTOH has been the premier international forum on tobacco control and next year’s event – the first to be held on the African continent – is expected to attract over 2000 researchers, scientists, civil society, healthcare professionals, policymakers and media representatives from around 100 countries. It is reported that tobacco use is the world’s leading preventable cause of death killing more than 7 million people each year. “This conference is being held at a critical time, both in the war on tobacco and the drive to protect public health,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Countries have stepped up action to beat back the tobacco epidemic. But more is needed. By embracing the Sustainable Development Goals, governments have committed to promoting healthier and stronger futures for their citizens. Tobacco control offers one of the surest ways to achieve such ambitions.” The theme of the conference is Uniting the World for a Tobacco-Free Generation with an overarching focus on expediting progress to reduce tobacco use in all populations around the world – using new research and innovative approaches in public health, as well as powerful but under-used policies, including tobacco taxation and those aimed at preventing industry interference. Michael Bloomberg will preside over the Bloomberg Philanthropies' Awards for Global Tobacco Control during WCTOH. The awards recognise leading organisations in low- and middle-income countries doing best in class work on the most effective tobacco control policies, collectively known as MPOWER measures: monitoring of tobacco use and prevention policies,protecting people from tobacco smoke,offering help to quit tobacco use,warning about the dangers of tobacco,enforcing bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship and raising taxes on tobacco. It is further added that while tobacco use is decreasing in many countries, smoking rates in Africa are anticipated to rise dramatically. By 2030 the number of smokers in the region is projected to increase by 40 percent from 2010 levels, unless there is significant intervention. Africa continues to be aggressively targeted by the tobacco industry, as it represents an opportunity for considerable market growth. [caption id="attachment_42221" align="alignleft" width="387"] Dr Flavia Senkubuge[/caption] Dr Flavia Senkubuge, President of the 17th WCTOH and a specialist in Public Health Medicine at the University of Pretoria, South Africa said: “The developing world continues to be the most urgent battleground for those working in tobacco control. We are delighted to have the commitment of three such prominent public health champions at the inaugural WCTOH conference to be held in the Africa region.” Professor Harry Lando, Chair of the 17^th WCTOH organising committee said: “We are confident that the high quality of the science being presented in Cape Town will complement the advocacy around WCTOH – we need both, if we are to make bigger strides in tobacco control, especially in this part of the world.” Some of the scientific highlights being featured at WCTOH include a novel study around HIV and smoking in South Africa, e-cigarette use and young people, and the impact of tobacco taxation and point-of-sale changes on consumers. The 17th World Conference on Tobacco or Health (WCTOH) is expected to unite researchers, academics, non-governmental organisations, civil society, scientists, healthcare professionals and public officials working on all aspects of tobacco control from around 100 countries. Convened by WCTOH’s Advisory Board, the Cape Town Consortium and the Conference Secretariat (The Union), WCTOH is a call for a collective resolution to fight tobacco use by working together and integrating tobacco control into our health and development goals. Held every three years, WCTOH is the premier international conference on tobacco control. It is reported that the conference theme – Uniting the World for a Tobacco-Free Generation – recognises that tobacco control is a global issue, crossing all geographic boundaries. The World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) stands as the backdrop for the conference and for our global response to the tobacco epidemic. It is the only internationally, legally-binding health treaty of the 21st century. Only by coming together are we able to create a tobacco-free generation. The Union is the Conference Secretariat for WCTOH. The Union is a global scientific organisation with the mission to improve health among people living in poverty. We do that by conducting scientific research, working with governments and other agencies to translate research into better health for people around the world, and delivering projects directly in the field. The Union is made up of a membership body of people around the world who help to advance our mission, and a scientific institute that implements public health projects within countries. For close to 100 years, they have been leaders in the fight against some of the world’s biggest killers, including tuberculosis, lung diseases and tobacco use.