World No Tobacco Day 2008 was nationally commemorated under the theme “Tobacco Free Youth”, on 31 May 2008 at the grounds of Eritrea Institute of Technology in Central Region. The event was organized in cooperation with Ministry of Health, National Union of Eritrean Youth and Students, UNO Asmara and WHO.

The Director General of Health Services, Mr. Berhane Ghebretinsae, represented the Chief Guest, Hon. Saleh Meky, Minister for Health. The message from the Ministry of Health (MoH), read by Dr. Tesfai Solomon from Regulatory Service Department of the Ministry, stated that tobacco is one of the major leading cause of death in the world. Tobacco use was a risk factor for six of the eight leading causes of death in the world. It kills one half of those who use it lifelong and die on average 15 years prematurely.

The statement disclosed surveys conducted by the MoH to spot the prevalence of Tobacco use in Eritrea. Results of the first survey conducted in 2004 for the age group of 15-65 years revealed that national prevalence for daily smokers was 7.2% and for non-daily smokers was 0.9%. In addition, results of a school based survey conducted in 2005 for the adolescents’ age group of 13-15 showed that approximately 8% of students in the country use any form of tobacco among which 2% of those students smoke cigarettes.

The statement from the MoH Eritrea re-iterated that tobacco in all its forms affects negatively the status of health, economy, environment, society and the country at large. The statement further underlined that taking serious note of the gravity of health threat that tobacco poses to the nation, Eritrea enacted proclamation 143/2004 based on WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The message noted also that based on the proclamation, the MoH had taken the following corrective measures:

• Developed a legislation prohibiting tobacco smoking in closed and indoor areas of any private or public work places such as: offices and office buildings, educational and health institutions, public transportation, cinemas, restaurants, etc
• Posted smoke signs in all private and public business and work places
  
• Prohibited advertising, promoting and sponsoring tobacco
• Each unit packet and package of tobacco products and any outside packaging and labeling of tobacco produced in the country should carry health warnings describing the harmful effects of tobacco use.

The message underscored that the MoH in collaboration with partners was preparing to implement tobacco use prevention. However, the statement noted, the process would take time and would require concerted and multisectoral approach including the participation of the entire society. The message concluded making a national call to the Eritrean youth as follows:

• The youth through the National Union of Eritrean Youth and Students (NUEYS) should advocate for the total ban on advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products
• The youth should actively be involved in national campaigns aiming at educating, informing and raising the awareness of the Eritrean people
• The youth should strengthen their role for effective implementation of the proclamation on tobacco ban in the country. In his remarks on behalf of the WHO Representative to Eritrea, Dr. Yohannes Ghebrat from WCO lamented that tobacco kills nearly five million people world-wide annually through tobacco related diseases.

These deaths are preventable. He pointed out that if no appropriate interventions were taken, the annual deaths from smoking tobacco would reach ten million by the year 2030, with more than 70% of victims being from the developing world, as these countries are prime targets for the tobacco companies.

Dr. Ghebrat further said “we should all work together to ensure that our children, the future generation of this country, live, learn and play in environments that are not harmful to their health and wellbeing”. In conclusion, Dr. Yohannes Ghebrat thanked the management of the Eritrea Institute of Technology and the students for hosting the national event to mark the World No Tobacco Day in Eritrea The representative from the NUEYS in his remark on behalf of the Association noted that the global theme of this year “Tobacco Free Youth” shoulders the Eritrean youth a big responsibility. health practices such as tobacco abuse. He underlined that besides seizing special occasions such as world days, all concerned should promote regularly healthy life styles in the media and other channels. He concluded his statement saying that to promote the safety and health of the Eritrean youth, the NUEYS would continue to work tirelessly with the MoH, other governmental and non-governmental organizations. Guests and a crowd of approximately 500 people mainly students were entertained through songs and drama featuring messages on this year's theme and tobacco in general. Other dignitaries present at the occasion included Dr. Andrew Kosia, Representative of WHO in Eritrea; Colonel Mehari Fesseha, Director of Administration/finance of Eritrea Institute of Technology; Mr. Tajedin Abdelaziz, Head of Promotion Centre of MoH; and Ms. Mary Momolu, Public Health Expert of WCO Eritrea.

In addition the day was commemorated in all the capitals of the six districts/regions in the country with the initiative of the NUEYS and in close collaboration of the MoH, WHO and UNO Asmara, Department of Public Information in Eritrea. He further noted that the history of Eritrea attested that the Eritrean youth continued to be the center of gravity in ensuring the country’s independence and, sovereignty and territorial integrity. He underscored that, to continue the endeavor and develop the country, the Eritrean youth should be free of addictive and hazardous.

Dr. Ghebrat underscored that a very firm stand to enforce the tobacco legislation should be of priority. In addition, he said, Eritrea should ensure that the proclamation was in line with the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in order the country to ratify this world health treaty to its national laws. He noted that while Eritrea tightens the legislation, it needed to sustain health promotion campaigns and encourage more and more people to quit smoking. On behalf of WHO, he urged all and the youth of the country in particular, not to be lured by what they see in advertisements. He underlined that tobacco causes unnecessary deaths, which could be prevented by not starting to smoke or by quitting. He called upon the Government, NGOs and civil society to join efforts to create tobacco free environment.