Civil society groups in Nigeria this month July, converged in Abuja, Nigeria at the Public Hearing on Nigeria National Tobacco Control Bill before Senate Committee on Health. Several International Organisations including Framework Convention Alliance, Africa Tobacco Control Regional Initiative, Africa Tobacco Control Alliance and World Health Organisation were represented at the hearing.

ATCRI presented a memorandum urging for speedy passage of the Tobacco Control Bill. Also Africa Journalists Network on Tobacco Control, a project of ATCRI, presented a position on the bill. The network hailed the Senate, the international groups, non-governmental agencies and other stakeholder for helping in the fight against tobacco smoking in the country.

Kayode Soyinka, a medical practitioner and representative of the World Health Organisation who was at the public hearing, applauded the Senate for helping in the fight against tobacco addiction and associated diseases.

"We fully support this effort, which is to domesticate the WHO- initiated Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Nigeria became a Party to this Convention in October, 2005, and this bill fully conforms to the provisions of the international treaty," said Mr. Soyinka on Friday.

Africa Tobacco Control Alliance, a collection of groups and institutions working on tobacco control in Africa stated in a letter signed by its chairperson, Racheal Kitonyo, that Nigeria is not alone in the quest to domesticate the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control provisions.

"Nigeria would be following the lead of other African countries such as South Africa, Kenya and Mauritius that have already begun implementation of FCTC provisions." "The Africa Tobacco Control Alliance challenged the Senate on a quick passage of the bill. We believe the bill is essential to improve the health of all Nigerians and we want to throw our weight as Africans behind the laudable move of your senate to achieve this," he said.

A United States based group, Corporate Accountability International also commended the country's move to domesticate the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, pointing out that urgent actions are needed to stem the rising tobacco - related deaths across the world, 80 percent of which occur in the Global South.

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The 8th African Heart Network Conference which the Nigerian Heart Foundation is honoured to host in Abuja from September 26th-27th, 2009 intends to provide a forum to address the issues, with a theme: ‘CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE RISK FACTORS IN AFRICA.’

The Scientific programme will address a wide spectrum of issues from scientific initiatives to public health strategies, from heart health in community, smoking to physical activity, nutrition and from advocacy to health system. It will provide a forum for all stakeholders in cardiovascular healthcare – clinician, scientists, policy maker, volunteer, professional, individual or organisation.

Concurrently with the conference, there will be the satellite meetings of International Forum of Hypertension in Africa, and Pan-African Society of Cardiology running September from 24th-28th.

Highlights of the programme include an opening ceremony to be graced by the Federal Minister of Health, Nigeria, President of World Heart Federation, President of International Society of Hypertension, Heart Network, Heart Foundations and Societies of Hypertension, Cardiology, Nutrition & Research Institutions and a Gala Dinner with Ministers and Governors of States as Guests of Honour.

A key feature is the special joint meeting of the African Heart Network, International Forum of Hypertension in Africa, and Pan-African Society of Cardiology on September 26th-27th. Participants will have opportunity to participate in the World Heart Day activities in Abuja and the Pan-African Forum on Tobacco.

The Norwegian Cancer Society (NCS) has granted the African Tobacco Control Alliance (ATCA), an umbrella body of African NGOs in tobacco control and Observatoire du Tabac En Afrique Francophone (OTAF), a French-speaking Africa alliance of Non-governmental Organizations in tobacco control a financial support of USD 50,000 each.

This grant is provided to for the implementation of the project titled “Lobbying African national governments to prioritize tobacco control within the development agenda”. The fund will be used to achieve the adoption of tobacco control legal frameworks in French-speaking Africa and lobby African national governments to prioritize tobacco control within the development agenda respectively.

	Visit Website of OTAF (Observatoire du Tabac en Afrique Francophone)
	Visit Website of Norwegian Cancer Society

ATCRI has been invited to speak at the premier LiveStrong Cancer Summit. ATCRI representative will be on the panel at a working session on “Leadership” at the LiveStrong Global Cancer Summit taking place in Dublin, Ireland between August 22nd and 26th, 2009.

The LiveStrong Global Cancer Summit is a landmark event bringing together world leaders, corporations, non-governmental organizations and individuals to spotlight their collective commitment to the global fight against cancer. The three-day event is a platform for participants to share their unique experiences, stories and commitments to the fight against cancer and create a sustained movement that changes the course of cancer in history.

Recently at a training organised by ACS in Accra, ATCRI articulated the need for collaboration between Cancer and Tobacco Control efforts in Africa. ATCRI representative noted that “as we look at curbing the trend in tobacco use, we must recognize very clearly that tobacco use in any form is a major health risk to the human body. Smoking is linked to at least 15 different cancers, and accounts for some 30% of all cancer deaths.” He said, “These figures are even more frightening when we consider the effect of this to us in Africa. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, annual new cases of cancer are expected to rise from 11 million in year 2000 to 16 million in 2020, of which some 70% will be in developing countries. Africa represents a major share of this number, and we know that this is the best time for action.”

Visit Website of LiveStrong Global Cancer Summit

Shortly after the progress made by Mauritius in the implementation of Article 11 of the FCTC with 65 percent pictorial warnings, the government of Mauritius has commenced implementation of Article 5.3 placing a ban on 'Corporate Social Responsibility' of the tobacco industry in Mauritius. Article 5.3 stated that , “In setting and implementing their public health policies with respect to tobacco control, Parties shall act to protect these policies from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry in accordance with national law”

Already, BAT’s current Annual Report indicated that there is response to this implementation. It states “The Public Health (Restrictions on Tobacco Products) Regulations 2008 restricted tobacco companies from engaging in any form of Corporate Social Responsibility Programmes. Accordingly all corporate social investments undertaken by British American Tobacco in Mauritius have been stopped. These included the undergraduate Scholarship Scheme which has seen 86 students enrolled in University, since 2000 and the food baskets Programme that has been recognized for the support it provided to deserving households”.

Click here to view The Public Health Act of Mauritius

A new report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, on “Transnational Trafficking and the Rule of Law in West Africa” has highlighted cigarette smuggling as an increasing threat to the region with a potential effect of institutionalising corruption, possible insurgent funding and loss of tax revenues within and outside the region.

Please read CIGARETTES FROM THE WORLD TO AFRICA on page 35, which put the volume at 11 billion illicit cigarettes for West African consumer markets, and 21 billion for North Africa at estimated value of US$774 million. While identifying Cigarette manufacturers and local distributors operating in West Africa as the groups involved in this trafficking, the report noted that the threat in increasing.

Click Here to Download Report