The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: WHO estimates tobacco death to be in excess of 4m annually, but will reach 10m by the year 2030 if present trend continues. Globally, tobacco control is hampered by factors such as addiction, economy, attitude and social disposition. While the tobacco industry is most economically viable, politically powerful and cheeky; tobacco control advocacy is perennially under-funded and the Governments are weak–kneed to stand up for the defence of its citizens. Therefore exploitation in tobacco growing, use and demand continue unabated.

Methods: The world community has recognized tobacco as a global problem, requiring a global response and adopted the world's first health treaty, framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) during the 5th World Health Assembly in Geneva in May 2003. The FCTC takes a holistic view in promoting a range of policies, which protect health, but these vary enormously across the world and quite inadequate. Low and middle – income countries' lack capacity to implement tobacco control measures. Cooperation among developing countries and the recognition of special problems of those that grow tobacco should reject industry-sponsored initiatives.

Results:

Further research is vital in developing countries into some important areas of tobacco control, which can be taken through partnerships between organizations in both developed and developing countries. There should be willingness for cooperation in resources, policies, legislation, education and research programmes taking into account the role of civil society and projections of tobacco death, which also show that 70% of these will occur in developing countries.