Among the many lowlights at this year's WHO anti-nicotine shindig was the Framework Convention Alliance giving New Zealand the Dirty Ashtray award for repealing the ludicrous generational tobacco ban while giving Mexico the Orchid Award for making a speech about how ghastly the tobacco industry is. New Zealand's smoking rate has been falling fast and is now one of the lowest in the world. Mexico's smoking rate has been rising.
But Mexico banned e-cigarettes this year and that's good enough for the WHO. In tobakko kontrol, it's process and intentions that count, not outcomes. (See this article for the hilarious response of Beowulf scholar turned "public health" expert Janet Hoek to New Zealand's "national shame".)
The poor old WHO isn't doing too well these days. In a document circulated to member states, it says that it has a $1.06 billion shortfall and is having to make cuts. They include:
2,371 job losses and a 28% reduction in headcount. The WHO's Regional Office in Africa is bearing the brunt (who cares about Africa, eh?) with a 25% reduction in staff, but Europe is not far behind with 24%.
The WHO's leadership team was reduced by around 50% in June.
The number of WHO units will be cut from 206 to 127.
The Assistant Director-General post on Universal Health Coverage, Communicable and Noncommunicable Diseases has been abolished. 'NCDs' are now the responsibility of Britain's Jeremy Farrar who is a good fit for the WHO because he likes sucking up to China.
The WHO says that it aims to "build on assessed contributions, diversify funding sources, and streamline grant management through technology". Don't be surprised if Bloomberg steps up with some more cash to tighten his stranglehold on the organisation.
Meanwhile, the New Zealand government has cut the budget of its temperance groups. I'll drink to that.
Have a great weekend!
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