3 August 2021, Gaborone: Every year, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes individuals and organizations worldwide for their accomplishments in the area of tobacco control. This recognition is acknowledged by the WHO Director-General through a Special Recognition Award and World No Tobacco Day Awards. This year Botswana celebrates the recipient of the WHO Director-General Special Recognition Award, Professor Bontle Mbongwe. Professor Mbongwe is one of the six recipients of the award in the African region, highlighting her accomplishments in the area of tobacco regulation and control. 

On the 3rd of August 2021, the WHO Country Office held an awards ceremony to honour  Professor Mbongwe and to present her with the Special Recognition Award and World No Tobacco Day Awards. Speaking at the awards ceremony the WHO Country Representative, Dr Josephine Namboze explained that this award was established by the office of the WHO Director-General years ago to appreciate the notable contribution to tobacco control by non-state actors. “We congratulate you and the Anti-Tobacco Network (ATN) and say keep the good work going”, she said. 

Globally, more than 8 million people per year die from tobacco use, 7 million from direct exposure and 1.2 million including 65,000 children due to second-hand smoke. Over 80% of smokers are low-income earners in low and middle-income countries. The worldwide tobacco problem is so big and pervasive that the United Nations has developed a Sustainable Development Goal target to address it (SDG 3a). The target addresses the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) at the country, regional, and international levels, yet again at the prompting of Member States at Head of State and Government levels.

The above are only some of the indications that encouraged WHO Member States to develop the WHO FCTC, enabling Member States to address the growing tobacco epidemic. The FCTC is an international law that guides countries as they draft and develop their tobacco control laws. Countries that have ratified the convention have committed to domesticating the requirements of the FCTC into their laws. The goal of the FCTC is to protect existing and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental, and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke.

In his presentation at the ceremony the Technical Consultant to the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW), Dr Morrison Sinvula, who represented the Permanent Secretary of MoHW,  congratulated Professor Mbongwe on her contribution and commitment towards tobacco control in Botswana. He furthermore assured the continued support of the Ministry to do everything possible to ensure that tobacco doesn’t continue to destroy the lives of Batswana.

“I am greatly honoured and humbled to be receiving such an important award, the WHO Director-General Special Award on the World No Tobacco Day, 2021. I am truly grateful for the recognition I have received because I am very sure that every other nominee for this award was as capable if not more, of winning this prestigious award’’, Professor Mbongwe said in her acceptance remarks. She also acknowledged her former employer Ministry of Health and Wellness, her family, the University of Botswana and partner civil society organizations for the inspiration they provide to her as an advocate for tobacco control. 

The achievement by Professor Mbongwe highlights the work and collaboration by the World Health Organization Country Office, the Government of Botswana, the Anti-Tobacco Network, and various stakeholders to minimize the use of tobacco and related illness and deaths. This award is also a milestone for the Anti-Tobacco Network, endorsing their efforts as a non-governmental organization.

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Professor Bontle Mbongwe is an associate professor in the Department of Environmental Health at the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Botswana. Professor Mbongwe is the founder and currently interim director of the Anti-Tobacco Network – an organization that has established its footprint as a leader in the tobacco control area in Botswana.