No Tobacco Day Award 2024

Each year, the World Health Organization (WHO) appreciates the outstanding contribution of individuals and organizations in the field of tobacco control across its six regions, through the prestigious World No Tobacco Day Awards. This year, the Alcohol and Drug Information Centre (ADIC), Sri Lanka has been awarded as the winner of the WHO World No Tobacco Day Awards from the WHO South-East Asia region, which marks a milestone in ADIC’s journey in tobacco prevention.

World No Tobacco Day is a global campaign initiated by the World Health Organization (WHO) each year, on the 31st of May, to inform the public on the dangers of tobacco use, the business practices of tobacco companies, efforts of WHO in fighting the tobacco epidemic, and what people around the world can do to claim their right to health and healthy living and to protect future generations. This year’s theme, ‘Protecting children from tobacco industry interference,’ emphasizes the urgent need to safeguard the children and youth, as the tobacco industry predominantly targets this vulnerable demographic as replacements for the declining customer base.

ADIC’s efforts mainly focus on demand and supply reduction of tobacco, in line with recommendations by the WHO and have significantly contributed to the tobacco control movement in Sri Lanka over the years. Through health promotion approach, policy advocacy, community awareness and research studies, ADIC has laid the groundwork and developed its initiatives over the years to facilitate tobacco control, leading to rewarding results within communities and the country as a whole. Our strategies further highlight the importance of individuals identifying the harm of tobacco use, while developing their skills and knowledge to claim their rights violated by tobacco use, through our interventions.   

Our success is not an individual effort, but rather, a result of valuable relationships built with communities, volunteers and all other stakeholders, who have been a part of ADIC’s journey for many years. We join hands to share this victory with each and every individual, to stand stronger for a better tomorrow through further safeguarding the people of our nation from tobacco harm and the subtle strategies of the tobacco industry.