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Overview

Show the truth: Picture warnings save lives

WHO has selected "Tobacco health warnings" as the theme for World No Tobacco Day 2009 to:

emphasize the importance of tobacco packaging as a medium for communicating public health messages

show that health warnings motivate behavioural change, such as quitting or avoiding exposing others to second-hand smoke

encourage Parties to use the MPOWER technical assistance package developed by WHO to support countries’ implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

Tobacco is the only legal consumer product that kills when used exactly as intended by the manufacturer. World No Tobacco Day will help to save more lives and to limit the damage caused by tobacco use.

The key messages of this year’s World No Tobacco Day are:

Health warnings on tobacco product packaging are critical to any effective tobacco control strategy.

Health warnings reflect the deadly product within and raise awareness of the health risks of tobacco use.

Pictorial health warnings help counter the branding and imagery of the package.

The WHO FCTC Article 11 guidelines are a blueprint for action.

All countries have a moral obligation to ratify and fully implement the WHO FCTC to save lives.

Awards

Every year, the World Health Organization (WHO) presents awards to key people and/or organizations that have made valuable contributions to tobacco control and have helped make World No Tobacco Day and its theme a great success. These awards are an expression of WHO's appreciation of the great time and effort that these contributors have invested in the campaigns, as well as in fighting tobacco.

This year, five World No Tobacco Day awards were presented to:

Antismoking Society, Bahrain

Mrs Nadine Kayrouz El Krab, President of the Tobacco Free Initiative Organization, Lebanon

Lalla Salma Association Against Cancer, Morocco

Dr Ahmed Abd El Rahman Mohamed, Head of the International Friendship Council, Head of the Sudanese Society for Educating the Risk of Tobacco, Sudan

Mrs Raoudha Kaabi, Director of College Menzah 5, Ministry of Public Health, Tunisia

These individuals and/or organizations have played an integral role in tobacco control, particularly in promoting smoke-free environments and pushing for banning tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship to prevent tobacco use and protect public health. They have also contributed to various campaigns aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of tobacco use and exposure to its smoke, particularly among young people.

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