WHO Director Customary recognizes Mauritius unwavering efforts to control tobacco

Today, the World Successfully being Organization proudly celebrates Mauritius for its relentless and resolute commitments to tobacco control. The country is being known with the approved WHO Director Customary Special Recognition Award as piece of World No-Tobacco Day 2025.

On this Monday 19 Would possibly possibly presumably also just 2025, at the very onset of the 78^th World Successfully being Assembly,

The Honorable Anil Kumar Bachoo, Minister of Successfully being and Wellness got the Award at as soon as from the hand of the WHO Director Customary in recognition of Mauritius outstanding efforts in tobacco control. 

This recognition comes as no shock.  The World Successfully being Organization has long regarded Mauritius as a World Champion within the war in opposition to tobacco. 

Mauritius has demonstrated sustained management since 2003, supporting the institution of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). In 2004, the Republic of Mauritius became one among the first events to ratify the Framework Convention. By 2008, the country had launched its first WHO FCTC-compliant tobacco control regulations, mandating pictorial smartly being warnings on cigarette packaging and imposing a entire ban on tobacco marketing, promotion, and sponsorship — a pioneering tear in Africa.

In 2022, Mauritius reinforced again its Regulatory Framework, introducing insensible packaging, elevated smartly being warnings, a full smoking ban in all indoor and loads outside public places in addition to regulating tobacco alternate interferences. The regulations additionally imposed a ban on the originate, import, distribution and sale of waterpipes, electronic-nicotine provide systems, and heated, smokeless, flavored and roll-your fill tobacco products. 

These courageous actions non-public made Mauritius the third country on this planet to put in force to the best stage the WHO FCTC and MPOWER solutions and the first African country to introduce insensible packaging. 

Today’s award celebrates this regular, determined progress — a tribute to the unwavering commitment of the of us of Mauritius and, notably, the Ministry of Successfully being and Wellness. Their ongoing dedication has contributed to a revolutionary decline in smoking prevalence staunch thru the country.

Certainly, files from the Ministry of Successfully being and Wellness shows a decline from 21.7% in 2009 to 19.3% in 2015, and 18.1% in 2021. Basically the most up-to-date figures conceal a gender disparity, with 35.3% of guys and 3.7% of women folk reporting tobacco exhaust. Nonetheless, the 47.9% prevalence among men frail 25 to 34 in 2021 stays a touching on figure.

This award therefore not simplest honors Mauritius’ excessive-stage political commitment but additionally serves as an encouragement to support momentum. As the tobacco alternate intensifies its marketing and marketing efforts, notably toward children, continued vigilance and sturdy regulation enforcement dwell very vital.

The fine reward shall be a more healthy future — one with fewer circumstances of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and most cancers, which are preventable thru sustained tobacco control.

Congratulations, Mauritius!