Tobacco is an evitable epidemic which kills one out of two smokers. Statistics from the Cameroon Coalition Against Tobacco (C3T) reveal that tobacco kills 6 million people in the world per year.

About 80 percent of the deaths are in the developing world and many diseases are linked to tobacco consumption. In spite of efforts by the government to fight against tobacco consumption, companies continue to fill the market through advertising and sponsorship.It is in this light that a press dinner was organised in Yaounde yesterday May 28, 2013. The dinner was part of activities to mark the World No Tobacco Day 2013 which takes place on May 31, 2013. The theme for this year is "Ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship".

Speaking during the occasion, the Minister of Public Health, André Mama Fouda said tobacco control is an essential element in the fight against tobacco. The Minister used the occasion to call on media organs to take up the challenge and stop publishing adverts on tobacco in their various media organs in order to save the lives of Cameroonians. Journalists sought to know the measures taken by government to fight against tobacco consumption in the country. According to the Minister, tobacco adverts are done in several ways notably through gadgets, T-shirts, pens, caps and umbrellas, among others. To wipe out this scourge, the government has put in place measures for the fight against tobacco consumption such as the Committee for the Fight against tobacco among others. André Mama Fouda insisted that this illicit form of advertising on tobacco should be wiped out.

Organised by the Cameroon Coalition against Tobacco (C3T) the meeting was an opportunity for members of the C3T to draw public attention on the fallacious strategies of tobacco companies to promote their products through the non-respect and non application of the law of December 29, 2006 on advertising in Cameroon. The law forbids advertising, sponsorship in favour of cigarettes and other tobacco products. Moreover, article 13 of the Convention on the fight against tobacco ratified by Cameroon in 2005 calls on countries to put in place measures aimed at reducing tobacco consumption and exposition of secondary smokers. The event took place in the presence of members of government, the civil society and guests.