News and Events

Globally, tobacco kills more than 7.2 million people per year with over 80% of smokers coming from low and middle-income countries. 17.7% of people die every year from cardiovascular diseases and this contributes 31% of global deaths. This was said by WHO Representative in Botswana Dr Martins Ovberedjo at World No Tobacco Day commemorations recently in Francistown.

Ovberedjo applauded the government of Botswana for being among the few countries that took the brave and unpopular step of imposing a levy on tobacco, the single most effective tobacco control measure. ‘‘I know that your government is again ahead of others in compliance with WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FTCT) and implementation of the other initiatives or strategies”, he said. Dr Ovberedjo encouraged Batswana to protect their health and that of other people from exposure to second hand smoke. He said WHO and the rest of UN family will continue to support Botswana’s remarkable tobacco and NCD prevention effort.

For her part Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Wellness Ms. Ruth Maphorisa stated that the objective of the day was to encourage all persons worldwide who smoke or chew Tobacco to quit for at least 24 hours, to raise awareness on harmful effects of tobacco consumption and the risk associated with tobacco use as well as to advocate for effective policies that could reduce tobacco consumption. She further said Botswana has been able to respond to this global concern on the harmful effects of tobacco by joining the global community in commemorating this day also by developing the first legislation on tobacco control in 1992 known as the Control of Smoking Act. Read more...