THE Minister of Health, Dr Kyaw Myint, was the recipient of a World No Tobacco Day Award announced at the 57th World Health Assembly in Geneva on May 20.

The awards, the first of their kind given out by the World Health Organisation, were to honour the efforts of those who have worked to mitigate the damaging effects of tobacco use around the world.

Dr Kyaw Myint was recognised for his contribution to the development of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), unanimously adopted by the WHO’s 192 members at last year’s World Health Assembly.

“I did not accomplish the work alone, but rather in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the Yangon City Development Committee, the Ministry of Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs, and other government agencies,” said Dr Kyaw Myint, a non-smoker.

“We are proud that Myanmar has been recognised as being active in implementing tobacco-free initiatives,” said Dr Pe Thet Htoon, the director of the ministry’s International Health Division.

Dr Pe Thet Htoon said Dr Kyaw Myint’s enthusiasm in initiating the FCTC while he worked as a chairman on the executive board of last year’s World Health Assembly in Geneva helped him earn the award.

The convention is the first international public health treaty focusing on tobacco control. Myanmar ratified it April 20, five month after becoming a signatory.

The project dates to 1996, when WHO officials recognised the need for an international convention aimed at protecting present and future generations from the damaging health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke.

Myanmar’s contribution to the process included hosting regional consultations on the convention in August 2002.

Dr Kyaw Myint also chairs the National Tobacco Control Committee, which four years ago launched the Tobacco Free Initiative Project.

A ceremony to honour Dr Kyaw Myint organised by the WHO and the Ministry of Health will be held on May 31 – World No Tobacco Day – at the International Business Centre in Yangon.