American Cancer Society Collaborates with Cancer Research UK to Launch Major Tobacco Control Initiative in Africa

Lanre Onigbogi, director of ATCRI (at podium), addresses the audience at the launch of ATCRI

On November 16, international leaders in cancer and tobacco control convened in Durban, South Africa, for the official launch of the Africa Tobacco Control Regional Initiative (ATCRI). This joint initiative between the American Cancer Society and Cancer Research UK promotes the adoption, implementation, and enforcement of effective tobacco control policies, legislation, and programs within Africa. The launch preceded the Third Session of the Conference of Parties to the World Health Organization-initiated Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, also held in Durban, South Africa, November 17-22. The ATCRI will be hosted by the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth, Nigeria, and will provide a platform for information sharing, institutional support, and capacity building among all tobacco control stakeholders. The launch of ATCRI comes at a very important time when, according to the World Health Organization, the African continent is experiencing the highest increase in the rate of tobacco use. The launch of the initiative has received extensive media coverage from United Press International and media outlets in Africa. 

The American Cancer Society actively participated in COP-3, at which the Parties to the FCTC adopted three important guidelines on:

- advertising, promotion, and sponsorship

- packaging and labeling

- protection of public health policies from tobacco industry interference. 

For more information on ATCRI, please visit the ATCRI Web site at www.atcri.org.

Comments

[AJAYI TAIWO]

This is a job well done.Please i want to know some steps taken to make people that need this information get it.How much of awareness are you into,i once watched it on the tv but average lagosians will still be on their way home from work and will not have the opportunity of watching such programme. Once again well done.