PRESS RELEASE                                                                                                                   

ORGANIZERS: Meqoamia Community Development Organization (MCDO), in close collaboration with the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority (EFDA), the Addis Ababa Food and Drug Authority (AAFDA), AND ,  Mathiwos Wondu Foundation (MWF) ,  Health Development and Anti-Malaria Association (HDAMA), and the World Health Organization (WHO Ethiopia), and Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK).

This National Event lead by EFDA.

HEADLINE: “Unmasking the Appeal, Protecting the Generation” — MCDO and Strategic Health Partners Host High-Level National Press Conference to Combat Rising Vaping and Tobacco Tactics in Ethiopia

ADDIS ABABA – May 15, 2026

In a powerful, unified front against the rapidly evolving tactics of the tobacco industry, MCDO, alongside its foremost national and international health allies—EFDA, AAFDA, MWF, HDAMA, and CTFK, WHO Ethiopia—convened a major high-level national press conference and mobilization forum today at the Elilly International Hotel.

The high-profile event marked the launch of a comprehensive national campaign aligned with World No Tobacco Day 2026 under the global theme, “Unmasking the appeal – countering nicotine and tobacco addiction.” The primary objective of this joint coalition is to expose the predatory, deceptive, and highly attractive marketing strategies used by the tobacco industry to trap children and adolescents into lifelong nicotine addiction, while strictly reinforcing smoke-free public spaces across Ethiopia.

FOUNDATIONAL VISION: THE MCDO PREVENTION PHILOSOPHY

At the heart of this national mobilization is a profound understanding of human and national development. Addressing the press, the leadership of MCDO anchored the campaign in the organization’s core institutional belief:

“Nation means the sum of many people, and people are the sum of individuals; individuals (people) are owners of invaluable brain capital. Protecting the health of our minds means protecting the great wealth and capital of our country!” > — MCDO’s Philosophy on Substance Use Prevention

This philosophy reframes the fight against nicotine not merely as a medical intervention, but as a critical defense of Ethiopia’s sovereign economic and intellectual future. By targeting the developing brains of youth with addictive substances, the tobacco industry is directly undermining the primary engine of the nation’s growth—its human capital.

Guarding Ethiopia’s Intellectual Wealth: The Core Philosophy

Delivering the keynote address to the gathered press corps and dignitaries, Elias Kalayu, Executive Director of MCDO, captured the profound urgency of this national movement. He anchored the entire campaign in the organization’s foundational institutional philosophy on substance use prevention:

By reframing tobacco control from a basic medical topic to a critical defense of sovereign human capital, Elias Kalayu exposed how addictive substances directly jeopardize Ethiopia’s ultimate economic engine—the minds of its youth. “When the tobacco industry targets the developing brains of our teenagers,” he warned, “they are directly targeting the wealth of our nation.”

STAGGERING STATISTICS & THE NEW THREAT: E-CIGARETTES (VAPE)

During the joint press conference, the coalition shared critical data outlining both progress and alarming new vulnerabilities in public health:

• The Global and National Toll: According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, tobacco kills more than 8 million people annually. Tragically, 1.3 million of these deaths occur among non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke (passive smokers). In Ethiopia, thousands of citizens continue to lose their lives every year to these entirely preventable conditions.

• Progress in Adult Cessation vs. Youth Risk: Through the coordinated efforts of the Ethiopian government and civil society, adult tobacco prevalence in Ethiopia successfully dropped from 5.7% in 2016 to 4.6% in 2024, showing notable progress, particularly among women. However, this hard-won progress is being severely threatened by a new adversary: Electronic Cigarettes and Vaping.

• The Teen Vaping Epidemic: Globally, there are now over 100 million vape users, with an alarming 14.7 million being adolescents. Teen vaping rates are currently up to nine times higher than adult vaping rates.

• Ethiopia Targeted as a “Premium Target”: Data from the UNFPA 2024/25 report indicates that over 60% of Ethiopia’s population is under the age of 25. Recognizing this demographic goldmine, the tobacco industry has explicitly targeted Ethiopia as a “Premium Target” to recruit a new generation of replacement consumers. To mask the harsh, toxic taste of nicotine, the industry uses over 16,000 attractive fruit and candy flavors, aggressive digital marketing, and social media influencers to hook unsuspecting youth.

EXPANDING IMPACT: MCDO’S LOCAL AND NATIONAL TRIUMPHS

To effectively counter these threats, MCDO and its partners announced major milestones and strategic expansions for 2026:

1. Driving Compliance to 90% in Addis Ababa: Building on the foundations of the Addis Ababa Smoke-Free Initiative (AASFI) launched five years ago by AAFDA and EFDA, MCDO has scaled up its operational support from one sub-city (Arada) to five strategic sub-cities: Arada, Kirkos, Lideta, Gullele, and Kolfe Keranio. The targeted milestone for 2026 is to elevate smoke-free law compliance rates in these highly populated areas to an unprecedented 90%.

2. 100% Smoke-Free Universities (The UBAACM Program): Through years of sustained partnership with EFDA and the Ministry of Education (MoE), the Universities and Higher Education Institution Tobacco Control Program is actively transforming campuses across the nation into 100% smoke-free and tobacco-transaction-free environments.

3. Sustaining the Future: Human Capital & the ISSUP Ethiopia National Chapter: Ensuring long-term sustainability requires institutional capacity. MCDO proudly highlighted the establishment of the ISSUP (International Society of Substance Use Professionals) Ethiopia National Chapter. This international milestone provides a golden opportunity for professionals from EFDA, AAFDA, and the wider health civil society sector to receive standardized, evidence-based, internationally accredited training to scale up prevention and treatment expertise. MCDO has finalized preparations to fly in world-class international trainers to begin this workforce transformation.

A UNIFIED CALL TO ACTION: A BATTLE FOR EVERY CITIZEN

The press conference concluded with a resolute, collective call to action from all co-organizers:

• To the Government: The coalition urged the government to prioritize human resource development to fully enforce Tobacco Control Proclamation No. 1112/2011. Leaders called for increased support for evidence-based interventions and continuous professional training for law enforcement, health inspectors, and journalists.

• To the Community and Media: Parents, teachers, religious leaders, and media professionals were urged to break the silence surrounding e-cigarettes and unmask the tobacco industry’s deceptive marketing. Protecting our children’s dreams and preserving the nation’s “brain capital” from being stolen by addiction is a shared moral and civic duty.

Closing Manifesto: “Let us unmask the appeal and save the generation! Together, let us hold hands to build a healthy, tobacco-free, and thriving Ethiopia!”

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