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Individuals and organizations from across

the Americas to receive WHO World No

Tobacco Day Award

10 HORA PASA , 28 DI MEI 2019 12:26
SECCION: SALUD

Washington, D.C., 28 May 2019 (PAHO/WHO) – Individuals, organizations and authorities from
six countries across the Region of the Americas, including Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Colombia, El Salvador, the United States of America and Uruguay are to be honored with a

2019 World No Tobacco Day award. These honors, awarded each year by the World Health
Organization (WHO), aim to recognize outstanding contributions to advancing the fight against
the harmful effects of tobacco smoke.

The awards were announced in the run-up to World No Tobacco Day (May 31), the theme of
which is “Tobacco and lung health.” This year’s winners have all paved the way towards the
advancement of policies and measures contained in the WHO Framework Convention on
Tobacco Control (FCTC) in the Region of the Americas.

“Tobacco use is a huge determinant of lung health and is responsible for 65% of all deaths from
pulmonary cancers in the Region,” said Dr. Hennis, Director of the Department of
Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health at PAHO. “This prize recognizes the vital role

that organizations and individuals play in developing and supporting policies to protect the
people of the Americas from the harmful impact of tobacco smoke on lung health.”

The six winners of the award in the Americas are:

• Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment of Antigua and Barbuda for becoming the
third country in the Region to approve, within a single comprehensive legislation, a ban on

smoking in indoor public places and workplaces; mandatory graphic health warnings on tobacco
products; and a ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.

• Gerbert Marcelo Marquelli Canales of El Salvador. This posthumous award recognizes Mr.
Marquelli’s work as legal counsel for the Health Solidarity Fund (FOSALUD) in El Salvador,
where he played a pivotal role in drafting, promoting and supporting the adoption of the smoke-
free regulations.