WHO - World Health Organization

05/27/2023 | Press release | Archived content

WHO Director-General's remarks at the World No Tobacco Day awards ceremony – 27 March 2023

Every year WHO recognizes exemplary work on tobacco control through the World No Tobacco Day Awards.

Today I am honoured to present the WHO Director-General's Special Recognition Awards for World No Tobacco Day 2023 to three esteemed winners, nominated by the Regional Directors.

First, Dr Reina Roa Rodríguez, from Panama

Dr Roa is Panama's Focal Point for Tobacco Control, and Vice President of the Bureau of the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products.

Dr Roa has dedicated the past 20 years countering the global tobacco epidemic, and is globally recognized as a leading tobacco control champion.

It's my pleasure to invite Dr Roa to receive the WHO Director-General Special Recognition award. Our appreciation to you, Reina, and also to Panama.

[THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL PRESENTED THE AWARD TO DR ROA]

The second award goes to Her Excellency Dr Odete Maria Freitas Belo, the Minister of Health of Timor Leste.

Timor Leste is among the top 10 countries in the world for prevalence of tobacco use, with more than 70% of men and almost 30% of women using tobacco.

With technical support from WHO, Dr Belo led the effort to increase tobacco taxes, through policy dialogue with the Minister of Finance, the Prime Minister, the President, the Council of Ministers and the Parliament, which last year approved an increase in excise duty from US$ 19 a kilogram to US$ 50 a kilogram. Already this year Parliament doubled the duty to US$ 100 a kilogram.

Dr Belo also demonstrated leadership establishing Timor Leste's first tobacco cessation clinic, and a national quit line.

Thanks to the Minister's initiative, tobacco cessation services have been integrated into the Package for Essential NCD services and the training for integrated services are rolled out across four municipalities.

The Minister also supported the availability of nicotine replacement therapy for the first time and facilitated its inclusion in Timor Leste's national essential medicines list.

So it's my honour to present the WHO Director-General Special Recognition award to Ambassador Maria de Lurdes Bessa of the Permanent Mission of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, who will receive the award on behalf of Dr Belo.

[THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL PRESENTED THE AWARD TO MR AMARAL]

The third award goes to His Excellency Dr Ali Mrabet, the Minister of Health of Tunisia.

Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr Mrabet established a multi-party partnership for tobacco control and adopted a decree mandating graphic health warnings to cover 70% of the packaging of tobacco products.

Furthermore, a high-level multisectoral national anti-smoking committee was established, chaired by the Head of Government. The Ministry of Health, with WHO support, will support a series of multisectoral training sessions to ensure good implementation of the decision, and will involve key stakeholders.

It is my pleasure to invite His Excellency Dr Ali Mrabet to receive the WHO Director-General Special Recognition award.

[THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL PRESENTED THE AWARD TO DR MRABET]