28/07/2026
We Have Been Awarded a Certificate of Recognition for Our Contribution to Public Health and a Tobacco-Free City!
The Meqoamia Community Development Organization (MCDO) has been awarded a certificate of recognition for our contribution to controlling to***co distribution and protecting the community from secondhand smoke exposure in our city, Addis Ababa!
On July 28, 2026, encouraging results achieved thus far were evaluated during a recognition and award event organized for stakeholders who have made outstanding contributions to to***co control in the city. Dr. Muluemebet Tadesse, Director General of the Authority, who was present at the event, stated that the results achieved in to***co control across the city are changes brought about through strong stakeholder coordination. She urged that to further strengthen these efforts, the enacted to***co control proclamation must be fully implemented, supported by regulations and directives.
Additionally, Mr. Inga Erqeta, Deputy Director General of the Control Sector, who attended the event, explained the tangible changes registered in the to***co control sector in recent years. He stated that the encouraging changes recorded include:
79 percent of entertainment venues being free from to***co smoke,
A decrease in the prevalence of smokers from 5.3 percent to 4.6 percent,
The creation of smoke-free model villages, and
An increase in requests from second-hand smokers demanding "do not smoke here" within the community.
This prestigious certificate of recognition serves as a great encouragement for our organization, MCDO, for the robust community mobilization work carried out in collaboration with stakeholders.
Expressing our heartfelt gratitude for the recognition given to us, we will continue to strengthen our joint efforts with even greater energy than ever before to protect Ethiopia from the harms of to***co and safeguard the generation!