Tobacco-related disease reaches a treaty agenda

An international consortium announced completion of the original project goals.

The essentially completed genome gave researchers a foundation for studying human variation and disease.

The announcement followed large-scale cooperation among publicly funded sequencing centers.

Completion was a scientific milestone, not a claim that all genes or diseases had been fully understood.

Member states unanimously adopted the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

The convention marked a global public health agreement; it would enter into force later.

The treaty addressed the policies that shape smoking and second-hand smoke exposure.

The first African Traditional Medicine Day was observed on this date to draw attention to traditional practitioners in health systems.

On the first observance, the WHO regional office urged governments to formally recognize traditional medicine.

The newly instituted annual day offered a forum for discussion of African medical knowledge and health access.