q H.E. Dr Najeeb Saeed Ghanem, Ministry of Public Health, Yemen

Dr Ghanem significantly contributed to the development of the Council of Ministers Decree No. 113, by which all health centres and hospitals in Yemen were declared non-smoking. Decree No. 113 was developed in connection with Yemen's designation of 1995 as a year dedicated to tobacco control.

q Saudi Sports Medicine Association, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Sports Medicine Association initiated an anti-smoking campaign targeting young people through sports clubs. Nearly a thousand pamphlets on the damaging effects of smoking on the health of young people were distributed by the Association on World No-Tobacco Day 1995.

q Dr Shoaib Khan, Medical Superintendent, Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi-Islamabad, Pakistan

Dr Khan has made a significant contribution to generating awareness of the health hazards of tobacco use among physicians and the general public in Rawalpindi, Islamabad.

As a result of these activities, the Punjab Minister of Health (Urban), Mr Badaruddin Chaudhry, has declared all government hospitals as non-smoking areas, and has imposed a ban on smoking in all meetings, functions and gatherings of Health Department officials.

Dr Khan and his colleagues in the Holy Family Hospital at Rawalpindi have established links with social workers and nongovernmental organizations, and have appealed for their collaboration in creating a tobacco-free society.

q Ministry of Health, Iraq

In May 1996, the Ministry of Heath celebrated World No-Tobacco Day by introducing an anti-smoking campaign. An intensive tobacco control programme was implemented with regard to the mass media.

In addition, an ongoing education programme was established to train health workers on smoking cessation methods. Pamphlets, posters and booklets were prepared and distributed on the harmful effects of tobacco use.

q Mr Ahmed Sultan, Governor of Damietta Governorate, Egypt

Mr Sultan has contributed to the development of an anti-smoking programme in the Damietta Governorate, and has been instrumental in sensitizing Government employees in the Governorate to the harmful effects of tobacco use.

In March 1996, Mr Sultan declared all government offices in the Damietta Governorate tobacco-free.

q Comité National Olympique Marocain, Rabat, Morocco

In May 1996, the Committee celebrated World No-Tobacco Day by introducing an anti-smoking campaign in all sports clubs. Thousands of t-shirts were printed bearing the WHO logo and health messages. The campaign encouraged many young people to refrain from smoking. In addition, several meetings were organized at which the harmful effects of tobacco use and its link with the use of heroin were highlighted.

q H.E. Mr Ahmed Abdullah, Minister of Health and Welfare, Maldives

H.E. Mr Abdullah has made a significant contribution to the campaign to make Maldivian Islands tobacco-free. As a result of these efforts, at least two main islands, namely Meemu Atoll Madifushi (population 203) and Haa Alif Berinmadhoo (population 174), in Maldives are tobacco-free.

The people of Madifushi, the pioneers in the Maldives for a smoke-free society, learned of the dangers of smoking through extensive media coverage of the issue, a successful tool of the Maldivian Government to discourage smoking. Convinced that smoking is life-threatening, the youth of the island started an active campaign to make their home a non-smoking island. Less than a year after the people of Madifushi declared their island non-smoking (11 November 1993), the people of Haa Alif Berinmadhoo also pronounced their island home to be smoke-free (7 April 1994).

q Department of Education and Culture, Jakarta, Indonesia

The Department of Education and Culture has contributed greatly to the goal of a tobacco-free society in Indonesia, by declaring all government and private schools tobacco-free. On each World No-Tobacco Day since 1990, the Department has served as a model to 50 senior high schools by holding seminars and carnivals.

q Garuda Indonesian Airways, Indonesia

Garuda Indonesian Airways has operated non-smoking flights since 1991. Senior executives of Garuda's Department of Communication have been instructed by the Ministry of Health to ensure that the airline executes this non-smoking policy on all its routes.

q H.E. General Prem Tinnasulanondha, Former Prime Minister, Thailand

While Prime Minister of Thailand, General Prem Tinnasulanondha sought and achieved considerable effective tobacco control in Thailand and has directly contributed to the overall health of the Thai people. In 1987, he halted the Thailand Tobacco Monopoly’s expansion plan in which a new tobacco plant was proposed. In 1988, his Government, through a Cabinet resolution, banned all forms of tobacco advertising and the promotion of domestic and imported brands of cigarettes. Despite great opposition, he has also enabled sporting activities in Thailand to remain free of tobacco involvement. In 1992, General Tinnasulanondha chaired the first Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) awards committee honouring tobacco activists in Thailand.

q Dr Shyam Prasad Bhattarai, Director, National Health Education Information and Communication Centre, Nepal

Throughout his career, Dr Bhattarai has made a remarkable contribution to public health in Nepal. Dr Bhattarai has, in collaboration with WHO, successfully organized World No-Tobacco Day celebrations in Nepal and has subsequently monitored tobacco control activities arising from this annual event. Amongst other health education messages, Dr Bhattarai has been instrumental in the dissemination of tobacco control information throughout Nepal.

Dr T.J. Stamps has played a significant role in accelerating the "No Smoking" campaign in Zimbabwe in his capacity as cabinet minister and medical doctor. Dr Stamps has argued that the role of the health sector is to inform and educate the people about the dangers and consequences of tobacco smoking so that they make informed choices. At the same time, it must be noted that Zimbabwe is one of the top countries that grow and export tobacco, earning the country valuable foreign currency.

The fruits of the efforts made by Dr Stamps over the past five years have been evidenced by such definite changes as the banning of smoking by Air Zimbabwe in all domestic flights of the national carrier, and by Zimbabwe United Passenger Company, one of the country’s bus companies. Legislation has also been enforced so that all cigarette packs sold in the country bear health warnings. Major tobacco growers and manufacturers’ associations have participated in discussions with the Minister and other health officials covering wide-ranging topics such as health, lifestyle and economics. In addition, schools have also been encouraged to participate, particularly during World No-Tobacco Day.

The commitment and efforts made by many organizations and individuals is acknowledged and applauded. However, it must be noted that the guidance, support and special interest that Dr Stamps has given and shown in this campaign, continue to turn ideas into reality.

Early in his mandate, Mr Clinton declared the White House, the official residence of the President of the United States, a smoke-free area. Throughout his years in office, he has given strong support to a number of measures to control tobacco, culminating in his signature on new tobacco regulations to take effect later in 1997, and to be administered by the United States Food and Drug Administration. The new regulations represent a major advance for tobacco control and public health in the United States, and they go a long way towards fulfilling WHO recommendations for the adoption of comprehensive national tobacco control polices and programmes. Mr Clinton has been outspoken in favour of keeping cigarettes out of the hands of children. He has said:

H.E. Dr Chatty has been instrumental in issuing the Council of Ministers Decree on Tobacco Control in Syria. According to his orders, the Ministry of Health introduced legislation banning smoking in all health centres and hospitals in Syria. H.E. Dr Chatty has initiated recent moves to tackle the problem of young people and smoking, and to strengthen the health education programme and activities regarding tobacco control. H.E. Dr Chatty has demonstrated distinct leadership in his continuing drive to improve the health of the nation.

Mr Chernomyrdin is a non-smoker, an active supporter of athletics and host of the World No-Tobacco Day celebration to take place in Moscow on 30 May 1997.

The Pema Gatshel Dzongkhag (District) has been successful in reducing the use of tobacco of all kinds through vigorous campaigns and regular promotional activities. Since 1992, the Dzongkhag has been a smoke-free zone by way of consensus of the local authority, the business community and the general public. Religious leaders are also active participants in World No-Tobacco Day promotional activities. One outstanding achievement in the District is the agreement of shopkeepers not to sell any form of tobacco in their outlets.

Professor Chen Minzhang has been a tireless leader, worker and advocate in the area of tobacco or health activities in China. He was responsible for initiating and managing the development of tobacco control legislation, namely, articles in the areas of tobacco monopoly and law, protection of minors and advertising law. In 1990, Professor Chen established the Chinese Association on Smoking and Health (CASH), which received a WHO Tobacco or Health medal in 1994, and became its honorary Vice-President.

Professor Chen has been a central figure in many public health initiatives relating to tobacco or health. He received an award in 1993 and used the US $ 50 000 prize money for awards to principals of smoke-free schools and other tobacco control activities between 1994-2000.

In 1993, under his leadership, China won the bid to host the 10th World Conference on Tobacco or Health, to be held in Beijing in August 1997, which is cosponsored by WHO. Finally, Professor Chen has overseen and supported three national prevalence surveys and the strategic "Plan for tobacco control 2000".

q Professor Simon Chapman, Australia

Professor Chapman has worked for over a decade on tobacco or health issues, bringing a lively creativity to debates on advertising and sponsorship bans. He was part of a successful media campaign to reform tobacco advertising billboards. Since 1984, Professor Chapman has been a Member of the WHO Expert Advisory Panel on Tobacco or Health. He is Deputy Editor of the British Medical Journal’s specialist journal, Tobacco Control. Professor Chapman has written extensively on tobacco advertising and sponsorship of arts and sports.

q Soong Ching Ling Foundation, China

The Soong Ching Ling Foundation is a nongovernmental organization established in 1982 to work on children’s education, welfare and overall physical and mental development. In 1994, it added to its charter the task of reducing the uptake for smoking among adolescents.

The Foundation’s interest in tobacco began in 1994 when it initiated a national anti-smoking campaign among young people. More than 500 000 young people signed their names in 1995 in support of the campaign and it is hoped that the figure will have reached one million by the end of 1996.. The Foundation has also initiated a number of public health promotion activities in the area of smoking prevention and control.

q Dr Tadao Shimao, Japan

Dr Shimao has played an active role in the tobacco control policy of the Japanese Government. As President of the NGO Council on Tobacco or Health, Dr Shimao is responsible for coordinating the Government’s interests, and the activities of member organizations in promoting tobacco control. He has chaired several committees in the Ministry of Health and Welfare, in particular the committees for the Report on Tobacco or Health Problems, the Action Plan on Tobacco Control, and Smoking Restrictions in Public Places.

Dr Shimao is also President of the Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association and an expert on international health.

q Department of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Malaysia

The Department of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Malaysia has worked in a dedicated and persistent manner since the 1970s to promote the development of public health policy and action in the area of tobacco control, culminating in the enactment of the "Control of tobacco products regulations 1993". These regulations include provisions banning direct advertisement of tobacco products; requiring health warning messages and labelling on the levels of tar and nicotine with maximum permissible levels of 20 mg and 1.5 mg respectively; prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to persons below 18 years of age, and prohibiting their use of tobacco vending machines. Smoking is also prohibited in a wide range of public facilities and places. The Department of Public Health has been a very strong advocate of tobacco control and its achievements are notable.

q The Seventh Day Adventist Church, Zimbabwe

The Seventh Day Adventist Church has launched a "Breathe Free Stop Smoking" campaign. The campaign aims to motivate people to stop smoking, and places particular emphasis on lifestyle modification strategies. This initiative is in line with the concept which was started in the United States in 1960 and has been in operation in Zimbabwe over the past 20 years. Extensive coverage is given to scientific research, linking cigarettes to disease, disability and death. The campaign is revised every five years to meet the changing needs of smokers. The success of this programme has been attributed to the dedication of professionals, such as doctors, nurses and pastors who volunteer their time to conduct the programme.

q British Airways

Although not all British Airways flights are smoke-free, the company has rapidly expanded its smoke-free flights to become the European-based international carrier with the most smoke-free miles. In terms of public health and its example to other carriers, this is an important message in bringing people together to promote a smoke-free world.

q GLOBALink

Through its web site and e-mail service, GLOBALink is unique in its ability to connect and bring together advocates for tobacco control policy.

q BBC World Service Education Department

The BBC World Service is a European-based service with extensive international coverage, including educational programmes on lifestyle issues. The offices of the World Service are smoke-free. The Education Department is completing a joint project with EURO on an educational programme on tobacco use and lifestyles in Central European countries and Central Asian Republics of the former Soviet Union.

q Dr George Kotarov

Dr Kotarov is national counterpart for the Action Plan for a Tobacco-free Europe, Bulgaria. By providing the most comprehensively completed tobacco profile for 1996, Dr Kotarov represents the EURO tobacco database that drives the Third Action Plan for a Tobacco-free Europe. It is on the basis of country profiles that action is promoted on the national and international levels.

q Aer Lingus

Aer Lingus is the first European-based carrier to announce all flights operated by the company smoke-free.

q Hôpital de St-Julien, Haute Savoie, France

On World No-Tobacco Day 1996, the nursing staff of the Hôptial de St-Julien initiated an antitobacco campaign which resulted in a smoke-free hospital. The campaign, undertaken with very modest resources, has received wide media coverage.

q Mr Claude Evin

In 1991, Mr Claude Evin, former Minister of Health for France steered France’s comprehensive tobacco and alcohol control law, Loi 91-32 through the French National Assembly. To this day, it is still popularly known as the Loi Evin. This law bans tobacco advertising and restricts smoking in public places. Since its implementation, cigarette consumption has decreased by 9%. The Loi Evin is cited widely as an exemplary tobacco control law.

q Her Excellency Professor T.B. Dmitrieva

Her Excellency Professor T.B. Dmitrieva, Minister of Health of the Russian Federation is a strong supporter of strengthened tobacco policy and has taken the major step of agreeing to host the Russian National Conference on Tobacco and the official celebration of World No-Tobacco Day 1997.

q Dr David Kessler, former Commissioner, Federal Drug and Food Administration, United States of America

During his term of office, Dr Kessler first proposed and then oversaw the adoption of new tobacco control regulations under the United States Food and Drug Act. The regulations will come into effect later in 1997. These are landmark regulations that move the United States a long way towards fulfilling WHO recommendations for comprehensive tobacco control. Deep concern for the health of children motivated Dr Kessler to see this work to its successful conclusion. He has said:

Now, thanks to Dr Kessler, fewer American children will contract this paediatric disease - tobacco addiction.

q Mr David C. Dingwall, Minister of Health, Canada

The Honourable David Dingwall, Minister of Health, Canada, is taking serious measures to implement comprehensive tobacco control policies in Canada. In November 1996, he spearheaded the introduction of a new tobacco strategy involving several ministries. The new strategy includes tobacco control legislation, new tobacco taxes, anti-smuggling initiatives, new regulatory enforcement measures and new education measures. Of the new legislation, Mr Dingwall said: