Under the theme, “Unmasking the Appeal: Exposing Industry Tactics on Tobacco and Nicotine Products !”, World No Tobacco Day was commemorated by disseminating various awareness messages.
The celebration was organized by the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority in collaboration with World Health Organization, Mathiwos Wondu Foundation, and other partner organizations through media outreach and a panel discussion.
The event, held at Elilly International Hotel Addis Ababa, was opened by the guest of honor, Ms. Muluemebet Tadese, Director General of the Addis Ababa Food and Drug Authority keynote speech. In her remarks, she stated that based on Ethiopia’s tobacco control law and with a clear understanding of the harmful effects of tobacco, enforcement activities—particularly in Addis Ababa—will continue to be strengthened.
Mr. Seyoum Wolde, Deputy Director General of the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority, stated that the main objective of the 34th World No Tobacco Day celebration is to protect young people by exposing the tactics used by tobacco industries.
Representing World Health Organization in Ethiopia, a speaker commended Ethiopia’s efforts in tobacco control, noting that the measures taken against tobacco have brought significant positive changes. He also emphasized that the World Health Organization will continue supporting efforts to reduce tobacco-related harm.
Mr. Zelalem Mengistu, Program Director at the Mathiwos Wondu Foundation, said that this year’s campaign particularly focuses on exposing the advertising, deceptive marketing, and manipulative tactics used by tobacco and nicotine industries to attract youth and adolescents.
Mr. Zelalem further stated that Ethiopia’s enactment of Proclamation No. 1112/2011 and the strong enforcement measures implemented are a source of great pride, as they have helped save millions of lives.
He cited a recent study showing that tobacco use prevalence in Ethiopia declined from 4.2% in 2015 to 2.9% in 2024.
In his message to young people, he urged youth to protect themselves from tobacco addiction, encouraged families to educate their children, and called on the government and partner institutions to strictly enforce tobacco control laws. He emphasized that everyone has a responsibility to contribute to the fight against tobacco use
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