The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: 1. Describe the learning lessons of an international organization facilitating tobacco cessation and control activities amongst its member organizations 2. Outline the purpose of an online survey about tobacco cessation for its member organizations 3. Describe strategies to enhance the abilities of its member organizations to address the tobacco pandemic

Methods: At the 2001 World Wonca conference (Durban), the executive committee passed the Call for Action on Tobacco Cessation and formed a Task Force on Tobacco Cessation. The Wonca online survey will help member organisations to identify their strengths and needs, set priorities in selecting goals for improvement, and monitor their progress over time. This data will help to identify “best practices” and common needs. Regional and international programme committees will showcase “best practices” and organise workshops at their conferences.

Results: At the Global Tobacco Forum (2004 World Wonca conference), all member organizations were encouraged to: 1) endorse the WHO Code of Practice on Tobacco Control for Health Professional Organizations and 2) complete the Wonca Online Survey with the goal of developing an action plan for the 2007 World Wonca conference in Singapore. Survey examples will present a diversity of tobacco cessation and control activities by its member organizations. Wonca needs to develop partnerships with non-governmental organizations, international organizations and pharma companies to fund initiatives of mutual interest and to enhance tobacco cessation activities globally (such as developing an interdisciplinary Global Tobacco Cessation Guideline that is flexible to the needs of different countries).