News Release
1997-39
June 6, 1997
Minister of Health David Dingwall receives World Health Organization award
OTTAWA - Health Minister David Dingwall today received the World Health Organization's (WHO) Tobacco or Health Award from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) at a ceremony held in Washington, D.C. The award recognizes Minister Dingwall's leadership role in bringing forward a comprehensive tobacco control policy for Canada.
"It has been my priority as Minister of Health to strengthen efforts to control tobacco use and to reduce the exposure of young people to tobacco products and promotion," Mr. Dingwall said. "I am honoured to receive the WHO's recognition of Canada's efforts to halt the suffering caused by tobacco which last year killed 40,000 Canadians and 635,000 people worldwide."
Other recipients of the Award were U.S. President Bill Clinton and former head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Dr. David Kessler. The WHO Tobacco or Health Award is presented in recognition of outstanding contributions in the area of tobacco control.
The Pan American Health Organization is the oldest continuing public health agency in the world and serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization. PAHO works with governments, nongovernmental agencies, community groups and others to improve health and raise the standard of living in the Americas.
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