GABORONE, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Botswana on Monday received an integrity award for reaching a milestone in its tobacco control efforts from the World Health Organization (WHO), according to the country's health ministry.
This award was made at the 10th session of the Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), held in Panama from Feb. 5 to 10.
"The award was in specific recognition of Botswana's efforts to safeguard public health by ensuring that there was no undue influence or pressure from the tobacco industry, in any of its public health policy formulation or implementation processes, in line with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)," said Christopher Nyanga, Botswana's Health Ministry spokesperson, in a statement to announce the award.
Botswana's Tobacco Control Act strictly prohibits any form of contributions or corporate social responsibility initiatives from the tobacco industry. Botswana believes that the supply and demand of tobacco products should be regulated so that those who use tobacco, do so, with the knowledge about its health implications on them and those around, said the statement.
Nyanga said the ministry advises Batswana to continue taking personal responsibility for their health, especially vulnerable populations. ■
