CAMPAIGN FOR TOBACCO-FREE KIDS

GLOBAL TOBACCO: THE CAMPAIGN FOR TOBACCO FREE KIDS WORKS TO SUPPORT CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS IN LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD TO RAISE AWARENESS AND DEMAND ACTION TO REDUCE TOBACCO USE. THE CAMPAIGN PROVIDES FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN TEN PRIORITY COUNTRIES: BANGLADESH, BRAZIL, INDIA, INDONESIA, MEXICO, PAKISTAN, PHILIPPINES, TURKEY, UKRAINE, AND VIETNAM WHERE THE LARGEST NUMBERS OF THE WORLD'S SMOKERS RESIDE. THE CAMPAIGN ALSO OVERSEES AN EFFORT TO EDUCATE AND ENGAGE THE PUBLIC IN AFRICA, A REGION WHERE RATES OF TOBACCO CONSUMPTION HAVE NOT BEEN AS HIGH HISTORICALLY BUT ARE INCREASING. PRIORITY COUNTRIES INCLUDE ETHIOPIA, KENYA, NIGERIA, SENEGAL, SOUTH AFRICA AND ZAMBIA. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE OGLOBAL CAMPAIGN TEAM SUPPORT INCLUDES STRATEGIC PLANNING, CAMPAIGN IMPLEMENTATION, COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA OUTREACH AND POLICY RESEARCH AND LEGAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. THROUGH OUR SPECIAL INITIATIVE, THE GLOBAL HEALTH ADVOCACY INCUBATOR, WE ALSO WORK WITH CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS WORKING ON FOOD AND NUTRITION, ROAD SAFETY, DROWNING PREVENTION, AND A RANGE OF HEALTH SYSTEM STRENGTHENING EFFORTS. IN ITS WORK, THE INCUBATOR PROVIDES SIMILAR FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL PARTNERS IN MORE THAN 25 COUNTRIES WHERE THE HEALTH BURDEN FROM THESE ISSUES HAVE LED TO PREVENTABLE DEATHS AND DISEASE.

U.S. TOBACCO: IN THE UNITED STATES, THE CAMPAIGN HAS WORKED AT THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVEL TO EDUCATE AND ENGAGE POLICYMAKERS ABOUT THE HARMS OF TOBACCO CONSUMPTION. THESE EFFORTS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL, BUT TOBACCO REMAINS THE LEADING CAUSE OF PREVENTABLE DEATH IN THE UNITED STATES. A PARTICULAR FOCUS IN THE PAST YEAR HAS BEEN OUR WORK TO EDUCATE PARENTS, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITIES ABOUT THE HARMS OF E-CIGARETTES, PARTICULARLY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. OUR WORK CALLED FOR THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION TO USE ITS FULL REGULATORY AUTHORITY TO BAN HARMFUL PRODUCTS AND TO KEEP THEM OFF THE MARKET AND ACCESSIBLE TO KIDS. OUR LEGAL TEAM WORKED WITH FDA WHEN THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY HAS CHALLENGED THE AGENCY'S AUTHORITY, CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE OBUT ALSO INITIATES LEGAL ACTION WHEN FDA FAILS TO ACT. ONE SUCH ACTION WAS TO DEMAND THAT THE FDA FULFILL ITS OBLIGATION TO DEVELOP EFFECTIVE, SCIENCE-BASED, CONSUMER WARNINGS ON CIGARETTES. FINALLY, WE HAVE SEVERAL EFFORTS WHERE WE WORK WITH YOUTH TO BUILD THEIR CAPACITY TO DEVELOP CAMPAIGNS TO REDUCE YOUTH USE IN THEIR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES. SEVERAL OF THESE YOUTH ARE PROFILED AND HONORED AT OUR ANNUAL GALA. THROUGH OUR SPECIAL INITIATIVE, THE GLOBAL HEALTH ADVOCACY INCUBATOR, WE ALSO WORK TO ENGAGE AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE OVERDOSE EPIDEMIC IN THE UNITED STATES.