Addis Ababa University, in collaboration with WHO and Ethiopian Food and Drug Administration, organized World No Tobacco Day 2019 themed “Tobacco and Lung Health” on 1^st June, 2019 at Mandela Hall, 6 kilo campus.

The conference aimed at raising awareness among students of the university on the harmful and deadly effects of tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure, and on discouraging the use of tobacco in any form.

Ms. Heran Gerba, Director General of Ethiopian Food and Drug Administration Authority, noted in her remarks that recent research findings show that there are around 3.4 million p

eople who are addicted to Tobacco. “We have to work together to reduce the number of Tobacco users in Ethiopia”, she said.

Dr. Asmamawe Workneh, WHO Ethiopian Country office representative, also said that Tobacco smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke are major risk factors for lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), tuberculosis (TB) and asthma. “Over 40% of all tobacco-related deaths are from lung diseases like cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and tuberculosis”, he added.

Dr. Ashalew worku (MD) Internist PCM Physician at AAU’s college of health sciences, presented his scientific paper on Tobacco damages and asserted, “Tobacco damages not only the whole person, but damages the whole planet”.

Government officials, celebrities, University Officials, and students were in attendance.