Brazzaville, 31 May 2012 –- Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) should continue to sensitize people in the region to the dangers of tobacco use while intensifying their efforts to protect tobacco control policies from interference by the tobacco industry and its allies.

"As we commemorate World No Tobacco Day, let us strengthen our efforts to protect the health of the people by raising awareness about the negative health effects of tobacco use and the interference from the tobacco industry", WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo, said in a message released in Brazzaville today (31 May) to mark World No Tobacco