Aligned with WHO’s World No Tobacco Day theme, “Unmasking the Appeal – Countering Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction,” the McCabe Centre contributed to a range of initiatives across Africa, Asia, Australia and the Pacific, working with key partners to strengthen tobacco control and protect communities.
Across all regions, the McCabe Centre continues to work with partners to address emerging challenges, strengthen legal and policy responses, and support countries in reducing the harms caused by tobacco and nicotine products.
Africa region: supporting young people to lead change in school and university engagement
In Kenya, our Regional Manager for Africa, Rachel Kitonyo-Devotsu, partnered with the Ministry of Health to support World No Tobacco Day activities across Murang’a and Nyeri counties. The program focused on youth engagement, beginning with outreach and sensitisation sessions in three secondary schools. Students took part in an essay competition, with winners recognised as part of the World No Tobacco Day celebrations. This work culminated in a university forum in Murang’a County, bringing together 100 student leaders and peer counsellors from two campuses. Discussions centred on practical strategies to support tobacco-free campuses and empower young people to lead change. As part of the broader campaign, the McCabe Centre also advised on public awareness content, including videos to be shown at international airports.
Asia region: addressing digital threats to young people
In collaboration with the WHO FCTC Knowledge Hub for Article 5.3, WHO FCTC Knowledge Hub on Legal Challenges (McCabe Centre) and Vital Strategies, ran a global webinar “The Digital Predator: How the Tobacco Industry is Using AI to Hook Tomorrow’s Smokers.”
The event brought together more than 120 stakeholders from around the world, on 26 May 2026, to explore how artificial intelligence and digital technologies are increasingly being used to market tobacco and nicotine products, the webinar featured experts in tobacco control, public health, digital governance and youth advocacy.
From Manila, our Regional Manager for Asia, Ma-Anne Rosales Sto. Domingo, contributed to the panel discussion, highlighting policy and regulatory responses to AI-driven marketing and the importance of protecting young people in the digital environment. See the webinar recording.
Australia – sharing global leadership in tobacco control
In Australia, McCabe Centre’s Manager Prevention, Suzanne Zhou, contributed to World No Tobacco Day events hosted by Cancer Council Western Australia as part of the Make Smoking History campaign, on Thursday 28 May, 2026.
At a session on Visionary Leadership in Tobacco Control: Recent Case Studies from Around the World, Suzanne joined Hazel Cheeseman (ASH UK) and McCabe Centre alumnus Hassan Mohamed (Ministry of Health, Maldives), with the session highlighting the experiences of the Maldives and the United Kingdom as the first countries to implement nationwide tobacco-free generation laws, alongside broader global examples of innovative tobacco control measures and lessons for countries considering similar approaches.
Suzanne also presented at the first Asia Pacific Regional Tobacco Endgame Summit the following week, co-hosted by the Centre for Research Excellence in Achieving the Tobacco Endgame, together with Action on Smoking and Health US, Aspire Aotearoa, the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance, Flinders University and the University of Queensland.
Pacific region: elevating regional perspectives
In the Pacific, Regional Advisor Delphina Taoa Kerslake contributed to regional dialogue through an interview on ABC’s Pacific Pulse. The conversation highlighted the ongoing health impacts of smoking across the region, including in Samoa, and explored the growing challenge of e-cigarettes and emerging nicotine products.
The discussion also underscored the importance of stronger regulatory frameworks and public health campaigns as countries work to respond to evolving industry tactics. Listen to the interview here: https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacific-pulse/pacific-pulse/106075746