DUSHANBE, 31.05.2018. /NIAT “Khovar”/. The World Health Organization /WHO/ awarded the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon with a special award for his great contribution to the fight against tobacco smoking.

Since 1988 on the World No Tobacco Day, which is marked on May 31, the WHO annually awards statesmen, scientists and specialists for significant achievements in implementing tobacco control strategies.

The WHO report says that on the initiative of the President of Tajikistan in January this year, a law was adopted that bans smoking in public places, with the exception of special places. The ban also included advertising cigarettes.

There are no statistics on smokers in Tajikistan, but hundreds of thousands of citizens of the country can not do without cigarettes and nasivay — a traditional tobacco product for the eastern peoples, which has a negative impact on human health.

Emomali Rahmon is among 32 awardees in the world, including representatives of governments, institutions and organizations that have made progress in the fight against smoking.