World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) 2024 at Adwa Victory Memorial Museum, Pan Africa Hall, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

A city-wide anti-tobacco and anti-drug campaign was launched in city level in line with World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) 2024 at Adwa Victory Memorial Museum, Pan Africa Hall, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Addis Ababa City Administration Food and Drug Authority (AAFDA), Ethiopian Food and Drug Control Authority (EFDA), and the Health Development and Anti-Malaria Association (HDAMA), with MWECS, and Meqoamia Community Development Organization (MCDO) coordinated this city-wide anti-tobacco and anti- drug movement with the motto “Let’s protect children from the interference of the tobacco industry” in the presence of more than 2000 people. This is 2024’s WNTD motto. AAFDA General Manager Ms. MuluEmebet Tadese said in her speech on the official launch of the city-wide movement, Tobacco has a negative impact on the health and beauty of the city of Addis Ababa, which is contrary to her name Addis Ababa (New Flower). She said that it will cause social, economic and environmental damage. In places where smoking and use of tobacco products are prohibited, the positive changes are very promising. The tobacco industry’s intervention and control activities are also being carried out despite the wide range challenges. Mrs. Buzena Alkadir, Chief Speaker of Addis Ababa City Administration, who was the guest of honour at the program held at Adwa Victory Memorial Museum Pan Africa Hall, communicated that, “In order to make our society a part of the movement to prevent tobacco and tobacco smoke, there will be large-scale movements to increase the participation of the society in the future, mainly: controlling the distribution of tobacco. Furthermore, he pointed out that taking constructive measures against illegal tobacco dealers and users, and expanding counselling and rehabilitation centres for our people who are victims of addiction for various reasons will make restoration of healthy and productive life and generations.