FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)
Sarjo Camara Singateh
28 November 2007
"Tobacco has been a subject of intensive debate on the international health agenda for quite too long" says Dr. Nestor Shivute, the World Health Organisation Representative to the Gambia.
Dr. Shivute made this remark at a one-day national consultative workshop on the WHO framework convention on tobacco control organised by the African Network for Information and Action against Drugs (RAID).
Dr. Shivute commended the government of the Gambia for ratifying the WHO framework convention on Tobacco, without which it would not have been possible to hold this very important meeting.
He said it had not only been a long way but a difficult journey in establishing these facts associated with negative social, economic and political implications due to tobacco use.
He stated that it is in response to this complex dilemma surrounding tobacco use that the World Health Organisation has since 1998 been working very closely with its 192 member states, international institutions and organizations around the world to develop an all inclusive framework convention for tobacco control.
He said this led to the formulation of the finest ever-international public health treaty.
He stated that the Gambia was not only among the few countries that endorsed it immediately after the World Health Assembly in 2003, but was among the very committed countries that have ratified it.
Speaking at the meeting the Director of RAID-Gambia Mr. Sambujang Conteh said after the ratification of the convention by the country on the 5th of June 2007, with the support of WHO and the State Department for Health, Raid-the Gambia, has the opportunity to embark on an effective nation wide consultation and sensitization on the framework convention on tobacco control.
He said the role of the community cannot be emphasised that they started the consultation on June 27 and ended on 6th September 2007. He said they targeted 1,260 people and at the end of the tour 1,534 participants took part in the fora in 42 administrative meetings.
Speaking on behalf of the SoS for Health and Social Welfare, the Deputy Permanent Secretary Mr. Sadou Janneh said the FCTC document and the consultative report would enrich the final document that will be subsequently presented to the National Assembly and other relevant stakeholders.
Deputizing for the speaker of the National Assembly, the majority leader, Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta said the WHO FCTC has propelled tobacco control into a new era as countries all over the world consider incorporating FCTC policies and recommendation in their own laws. Hon Lamin F. Bojang speaker of the Youth Parliament chaired the meeting.
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