WASHINGTON, 19 September 2011 ‘€“ As global leaders commit to stronger tobacco control, the African Tobacco Control Consortium (ATCC) joins the Framework Convention Alliance (FCA) to congratulate governments for adopting the Political Declaration of the UN Summit on NCDs.

‘€œWe are very encouraged that the Political Declaration agreed today at the UN High-level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) commits governments to accelerated implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC),’€ said Laurent Huber, FCA executive director. ‘€œThis is recognition at the highest political level that the Convention needs more resources and stronger political will to be fully effective.’€

Akinbode Oluwafemi, Director of the African Tobacco Control Regional Initiative said African governments must return home to fast-track the implementation of FCTC-compliant tobacco control measures in their respective countries. ‘€œOur governments need to enact and implement effective tobacco control laws. They need to raise taxes on tobacco products along with mass information campaigns about the lethal effects of tobacco’€ Akinbode added

The Political Declaration of the Meeting (the NCD Summit), which closes Tuesday, September 20 highlights the role played by tobacco use as a major risk factor for NCDs, which are responsible for nearly two-thirds of annual deaths, a growing number of them in the developing world.

The Declaration also commits governments to accelerate implementation of the World Health Organization FCTC, the global tobacco treaty that includes a wide range of measures to end tobacco use. The document also encouraged other member states to become Parties to the FCTC. The treaty now has 174 parties.

In addition, the Summit’€™s final document stressed the importance of one FCTC measure in particular ‘€“ tobacco taxation ‘€“ as ‘€œan effective and important means of reducing tobacco consumption’€.

FCA pointed out that despite its recognition of the important role of tobacco control, the Political Declaration falls short on action to tackle NCDs.

According to the World Economic Forum, if current efforts are not intensified, the four main NCDs will cause economic losses to low and middle-income countries of nearly $500 billion yearly in 2011-2025 (an average of $25 per person a year in low-income countries, $50 in lower middle-income countries and $139 in upper middle-income countries).

In contrast, putting in place a series of prevention and treatment ‘€˜best-buy’€™ measures, including tobacco control, is predicted by the WHO to cost $11.4 billion annually (from under $1 in low-income countries to $3 in upper middle-income countries).

However, UN member states in the Declaration failed to agree on an overall target for reducing NCDs deaths, and delayed until 2012 the setting of goals for measures like reducing the use of tobacco and salt. FCA noted it will be important to involve NGOs in the process of developing indicators and targets as they provide a useful safeguard against attempts at interference by the tobacco industry, a way to engage the broader population, and a source of expertise and experience.

According to Huber, ‘€œAction to implement NCD control and prevention at the national level must be stepped up immediately and need not wait for the setting of global targets. In particular, FCTC measures have already been agreed, have a clear evidence base and are very good value for money.’€

‘€œAccelerated implementation of the FCTC can begin immediately,’€ he added.