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Representatives of countries across the Afro Region of the World Health Organisation gather in Johannesburg next week for the African Conference on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Their aim is to discuss the draft of a global treaty which will guide member states of the United Nations in framing policy and developing legislation to achieve effective tobacco control.

"The conference has its origins in a resolution adopted at the World Health Assembly in May 1999," explains Health Minister Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang. "The Assembly unanimously mandated the World Health Organisation to get to work on drafting an international convention that would guide and promote more effective tobacco control world-wide."

The first draft of the convention was presented to WHO member countries at an international meeting in Geneva last October and several Working Groups were set up to deal with various aspects of the proposed treaty. It was also decided that each region of WHO would convene a meeting to study the text of the proposed convention more closely and ensure its suitability to conditions in the region.

South Africa was nominated as chair for the Afro region and consequently is hosting the meeting next week.

"I have lost count of the times I have been accused of ignoring 'real' health problems and wasting time on the 'irrelevant' question of tobacco control. I don't know how much more real we can get when 4 million people around the world die each year due to tobacco use. This figure is projected to increase to 8,4 million deaths in the year 2020 and 70% of these will be in developing countries," commented Dr Tshabalala-Msimang.

The international convention will deal with measures ranging from advertising and sponsorships by tobacco companies, to pricing and taxation policy, smoke-free public places, smuggling of tobacco products and support measures for alternative crops in tobacco-dependent economies.

"The erosion of the health of nations through tobacco use is clearly a cross-border issue that demands to be addressed through international instruments. As tobacco use declines in the world's wealthy countries, the giant cigarette manufacturers target and strike new markets in Africa, Latin America and Asia. Quite literally, their profits depend on the destruction of our health. No health authority and no health activist of any nation can in good conscience allow such trade to continue unfettered," said Dr Tshabalala-Msimang.

Venue: Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg north.

The Minister of Health will deliver the keynote address at a dinner at the Convention Centre on the eve of the conference (19h00 on Sunday 11 March). This function will be open to the media.

The opening session of the conference at 9h00 on Monday 12 March will also be open to the media. It will be addressed by Dr Derek Yach of WHO in Geneva.

There will be a media conference at the end of proceedings (13h00 on Wednesday 14 March).

In addition, the launch of Smoke Free Soccer has been planned to coincide with the conference. A central figure in this youth-oriented initiative is SAFA's Mr Danny Jordaan. The launch will take place at the Sandton Convention Centre at 13h00 on Monday March 12.

Journalists covering the conference should simply register on the day of the dinner or opening conference session at the media desk directly outside the venues allocated for these two events. Media registration will begin 30 minutes before the scheduled starting times of the dinner and the opening session. Please present a press card or similar form of professional identification.

Contact:

Jo-Anne Collinge on 082 787 0202
Sibani Mngadi on 082 772 0161

Issued by: Department of Health, 8 March 2001