UAE to host World Conference on Tobacco or Health
ABU DHABI – The 16th World Conference on Tobacco or Health (WCTOH) will be held in the UAE capital in 2015. The triennial event gathers international advocacy, public policy and health research experts to work together in achieving the goals of the world’s first public health treaty, the World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC).
The Head Authority of Abu Dhabi (HAAD) believes the conference will leave a considerable legacy in preventing new smokers from taking up the habit, and aiding smoking cessation efforts throughout the emirate and wider UAE. Currently 25% of deaths in UAE are directly linked to smoking-related diseases.
“The use of tobacco is one of the main risks factors of non-communicable diseases, one of the greatest burdens on the economics of health care in many different regions around the world and in Abu Dhabi,” said Mohamed Sultan Al Hameli, Chairman, HAAD.
“Hosting this conference in Abu Dhabi is a testament to the interest of the Government of Abu Dhabi to keep up with the latest scientific and international practices in tobacco control and combating tobacco use.”
Worldwide, tobacco use is a major public health problem, linked to six million deaths each year, according to the WHO. Most of these tobacco-related deaths now occur in low- and middle-income countries, regions that the WCTOH has specifically prioritised for inclusion in the 2015 summit.
Category: General health news, Uncategorized
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