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Tobacco News Archive
FDI joins global campaign to make the United Nations a smokefree place
Ferney Voltaire, FRANCE, 3 October 2007 - The FDI World Dental Federation announced today that it has joined a campaign to make the United Nations (UN) a smokefree place. The campaign, organised by the Global Smokefree Partnership of which the FDI is a member, calls upon the General Assembly of the UN, currently gathering in New York, to adopt a resolution calling for the UN to go smokefree worldwide. This resolution would protect more than 53,000 workers in the United Nations System, and would serve as a model for all governments.
The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), initiated by the World Health Organization (WHO), and ratified by 150 countries, requires parties to provide effective protection from secondhand smoke in the workplace and in other locations.
A UN smokefree policy would meet the best practice guidelines of Article 8 of the WHO FCTC, to which a majority of the UN members are Parties.
Click here for press release
Update from Global Smokefree Partnership
8 November 2007
Dear Friends,
Many thanks to all the organizations from around the world that already have joined the Global Voices for a Smokefree United Nations Campaign. If your organization has not signed onto the campaign, please click here now and add your voice!
Despite best efforts by Global Smokefree Partnership members and United Nations Member States, we were not successful in the difficult task of getting a Smokefree United Nations resolution onto the agenda of the United Nations General Assembly this year.
Our efforts over the past month have laid the groundwork for success in 2008. Planning is already underway to overcome the obstacles we identified this year. The Campaign will continue until the UN is smokefree worldwide!
We will keep you posted on progress over the coming months.
If you have any questions or would like to become more involved in the Campaign, please feel free to contact us at info@globalsmokefreepartnership.org.
Best regards,
Ami Valdemoro
On behalf of the Global Smokefree Partnership
FDI joins campaign in protection against second-hand smoke
GENEVA, 25 JUNE 2007 –The FDI joins more than 250 organisations in the Global Smokefree Partnership’s Global Voices Campaign. The campaign aims to garner support from countries and organisations around the world for a strong and effective policy in the protection against second-hand smoke.
The campaign was launched on the occasion of the 2007 World No Tobacco Day, which called for smoke-free environments and also in the lead up to the July 2007 meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The COP will meet to consider guidelines on the implementation of Article 8 of the FCTC, which is to provide protection against second-hand smoke. The purpose of the guidelines is to serve as best practices for countries in the implementation of their smoke-free laws.
For more information about the Global Voices Campaign, please visit: http://www.globalsmokefreepartnership.org/globalvoices
Click here for press release
FDI urges dental professionals to make their workplaces smoke-free
GENEVA, 31 MAY 2007 – On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day 2007 the FDI World Dental Federation urged dental professionals around the world to support smoke-free environments. The FDI leads by example through its smoke-free workplaces, congresses, continuing education sessions and meetings.
This is fully in line with the “Code of Practice for Oral Health Professional Organisations in Tobacco Control”, and FDI policy statement adopted in 2004 and based on the World Health Organization’s recommendations. “Smoking in a dental practice or health facility needs to be banned worldwide – the dental team and its working environment are important role models for patients”, said Dr Michèle Aerden, FDI President, in a message to all FDI member associations the occasion of World No Tobacco Day 2007.
Click here for press release
See the list of FDI's smoke-free member associations
Dentists in India Take Action
A comprehensive guide for dental professionals on how to address the tobacco epidemic has been issued in cooperation between the Ministry of Health, the WHO, the Indian Dental Association and the Indian Dental Council.
Tobacco related diseases account for almost 1 million deaths every year in India. There are 250 million tobacco users in India who represent 19% of the world's tobacco users. "It is a stiking fact that oral and pharyngeal cancers in India represent more than 30% of the global burden of these cancers. Tobacco use in many forms is the main reason for this" said Dr Mihir Shah, the editing author of the publication.
Dr Shah is a dentist and well-known tobacco expert. He co-chaired the tobacco meeting during the FDI Congress in New Delhi in 2004 and is also involved in the Global Health Professional's Survey with a survey of dental students and their tobacco related behaviour.
The FDI encourages all action to inform the dental profession on the effects of tobacco use and to engage them in active treatment of tobacco dependence.
Download Guide: Helping You Patients Remain "Tobacco-Free" (712KB, .pdf)
WHPA urges FIFA to make the Wold Cup 2006 smokefree
GENEVA, 29.05.06 – The World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA) joins more than 170 organisations and alliances worldwide to support the UICC Global Smokefree Partnership’s countdown campaign for a smokefree World Cup 2006 in Germany.
On behalf of the physicians, nurses, dentist and pharmacists of the world, the WHPA calls in an open letter to Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) for a reinstatement of a memorandum of cooperation signed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and FIFA prior to the 2002 World Cup. In the memorandum, WHO and FIFA agreed “that tobacco and sports do not mix and that tobacco in any form must be removed from all football events associated with FIFA.”
World Cup 2006 will be televised internationally to billions of people, of all ages and races. It is important that the image promoted by FIFA is one that encompasses a healthy competitive spirit, not to be overshadowed by the unhealthy, life-threatening habit of smoking.
The WHPA supports the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the world’s first public health treaty which contains a host of measures designed to reduce the devastating health and economic impact of tobacco.
For more information about the Global SmokeFree Partnership, please visit:
http://www.globalsmokefreepartnership.org
Related news:
BERLIN, 30.05.2006 - The German Dental Association (Bundeszahnärztekammer) announced today that they have also joined the initiative for a Smokefree World Cup 2006.
Click here to read press release. (German)
Portuguese "Tobacco or Oral Health" Guide launches in Lisbon
LISBON, 29.05.06 – The Portuguese Dental Association, Ordem dos Médicos Dentistas, will launch the Portuguese version of the "Tobacco or Oral Health" guide in Lisbon on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day (31 May 2006).
This year’s World No Tobacco Day marks the one year anniversary of the FDI World Dental Federation and the World Health Organization’s (WHO) initial joint release of the “Tobacco or Oral Health” advocacy guide in English.
The publication is a practical advocacy guide for oral health professionals. It provides tobacco facts, discusses the role of dentists and tobacco control, examines the role of advocacy and provides a number of wide ranging recommendations to move the tobacco control agenda forward.
“The ‘Tobacco or Oral Health’ guide is an important tool for oral health professionals in combating the use of tobacco. Ordem dos Médicos Dentistas took the initiative to translate the advocacy guide because we think it is essential that dentists in Portugal can easily take advantage of this tool in their native language,” said Dr Orlando Monteiro da Silva, President of the Portuguese Dental Association, Ordem dos Médicos Dentistas.
“Tobacco kills - and dentists can do a lot to reduce this death toll by becoming active in smoking cessation with their patients. The FDI is keen to promote this approach to dentists around the world,” said Dr Habib Benzian, FDI Development and Public Health Manager. “We highly welcome the important initiative by Ordem dos Médicos Dentistas.”
The FDI is active in tobacco control. In addition to the “Tobacco or Oral Health” guide the FDI has issued a series of policy statements on tobacco and is also a member of the Framework Convention Alliance, a network of about 200 organisations who support the development, ratification and implementation of WHO’s Framework Convention for Tobacco Control.
Please click here for more information about the "Tobacco or Oral Health" guide.
Prestigious award for Framework Convention Alliance (FCA)
18.04.06 - The American Cancer Society announced today the winners of the 2006 Luther L. Terry Awards for Exemplary Leadership in Tobacco Control. The Framework Convention Alliance (FCA) is among the winners of this year’s award as outstanding international organisation in tobacco control.
The Framework Convention Alliance consists of approximately 200 non-governmental organizations, representing about 80 countries who are working to support the development, signing, and ratification of an effective Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and related protocols. By bringing together groups already engaged in the FCTC process and outreaching to non-governmental organizations not yet engaged in the process, the Framework Convention Alliance has ensured that the FCTC addresses the needs and concerns of tobacco control organizations around the globe. The FDI World Dental Federation is a long-standing active member of the alliance.
“This award is in recognition of each and everyone one of you who have worked tirelessly and contributed towards the FCA’s activities during FCTC meetings in Geneva, at home while you supported your country in the process of ratification/accession of the FCTC, your work in support of the implementation of the treaty at the national level and much more”, said Laurent Huber, the co-ordinator of the FCA in Geneva.
The awards are named for the late United States Surgeon General Luther L. Terry, M.D., who authored the landmark 1964 Surgeon General’s Report which connected tobacco use to lung cancer and other illnesses. Dr. Terry’s courageous and groundbreaking work established the foundation for public health scrutiny of the dangers of tobacco use. The awards are presented triennially – the initial awards were presented at the 11th World Conference on Tobacco or Health in Chicago, Illinois, USA in 2000 and presented again at the 12th World Conference on Tobacco or Health in Helsinki, Finland in 2003.
For more information see the website of the Framework Convention Alliance at www.fctc.org
Consensus report of 1st European workshop on Tobacco Prevention and Cessation for Oral Health Professionals published
31 March 2006 - The report and summary papers of the 1st European workshop on Tobacco Prevention and Cessation for Oral Health Professionals that was held in Switzerland in October 2005 has been published in the recent issue of the journal Oral Health and Preventive Dentistry.
The FDI participated in the proceedings of the workshop and co-authored a paper on Public Health Aspects of Tobacco Control: Setting the Agenda for Action by Oral Health Professions Across Europe.
Abstract: Tobacco use is a significant public health problem across Europe. Each year over half a million Europeans die prematurely due to a smoking-related disease. Tobacco use is a primary cause of many oral diseases and adverse oral conditions. The prevalence of tobacco use varies considerably across Europe, although in many countries overall rates of use have declined in recent years. However, tobacco use among women and young people is rising in several European countries. Tobacco behaviour is influenced by an array of factors, and quitting is a major challenge for many tobacco users. Tobacco use is now considered a chronic progressive relapsing condition requiring very specific support and assistance. To reduce tobacco use across Europe, a range of complementary actions and policies are required at an international, national and local level. The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) outlines an array of evidence-based policies that can be implemented to prevent tobacco use and promote cessation. National dental associations and professional groups across Europe have an important role to play in supporting the ratification and implementation of the FCTC. The aim of this paper is to outline the public health aspects of tobacco control and highlight how the oral health professions across Europe can become actively engaged in this important and relevant area of prevention.
Watt, Richard G; Benzian, Habib; Binnie Vivien; Gafner, Christine; Hovius, Marjoljin; Newton, Tim J; Mecklenburg, Robert E (2006) Oral Health Prev Dent 4:119-26.
Read the full consensus report (pdf, 3.14Mb) - provided with courtesy of Oral Health and Preventive Dentistry and Quintessence, Berlin
To read the other papers resulting from the workshop.
Tobacco News Archive
2006
2006.02.06 - Advances in tobacco control
2005
2005.05.31 - Dentists to participate in Global Health Professional
Tobacco Survey
2004
2004.06.21 - Follow-up of Framework Convention for
Tobacco Control (FCTC)
2004.01.30 - New code of Practice for Health Professional
Organisations in Tobacco Control
2003
2003.08.04 - 12th World Conference "Tobacco or Health"
2003.02.28 - 6th Intergovernmental Negotiating Body Meeting,
Geneva
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