Advancing systemic change in public health requires strong multi-sectoral collaboration, standardized enforcement frameworks, and proactive policy advocacy.
This week, the Meqoamia Community Development Organization (MCDO) was proud to participate in at the National Tobacco Control Review Meeting held in Adama, Ethiopia.
Bringing together key leadership from the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority (EFDA), Regional Health Bureaus, city administrations, international development partners, and fellow civil society actors, the high-level forum evaluated the past year’s enforcement progress and charted an ambitious path forward.
As an active partner in drug demand reduction and addiction prevention, MCDO stood alongside our peers to endorse and champion critical strategic priorities for the coming period:
💻 Digitalization of Enforcement: Modernizing monitoring and tracking systems for uniform policy implementation.
🤝 Multisectoral Coordination: Enhancing structured alignment between national authorities, regional bodies, and grassroots civil society organizations.
🚭 Addressing Emerging Risks: Designing rapid-response interventions to tackle illicit trade and the rise of novel tobacco products targeting vulnerable youth demographics.
💰 Sustainability Planning: Formulating robust resource mobilization strategies to sustain nationwide enforcement and public awareness campaigns.
Safeguarding public health from the harmful socio-economic and physiological impacts of tobacco is a shared responsibility. At MCDO, we remain deeply committed to working hand-in-hand with regulatory bodies, governmental stakeholders, and our international partners to foster smoke-free environments and protect future generations from the cycle of dependency.
Our appreciation goes to the EFDA and all collaborating stakeholders for an impactful review. We look forward to building on these milestones ahead of the next national review session this August.
#PublicHealth #PolicyAdvocacy #TobaccoControl #CivilSociety #MultiSectoralCollaboration #AddictionPrevention #MCDO #EFDA #Ethiopia