The Award is in recognition of the vital role GRA plays in promoting public health through stringent tobacco control policies and enforcement, according to a dispatch from the GRA which reads below.
“The Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) proudly announces that Commissioner General Mr. Yankuba Darboe has been honored with the prestigious World No Tobacco Day Award by the World Health Organization (WHO). His recognition underscores the vital role GRA plays in promoting public health through stringent tobacco control policies and enforcement.
Selected among notable global recipients, Mr. Darboe's strategic leadership and innovative approaches have significantly reduced tobacco consumption and fostered a healthier environment.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Darboe for this remarkable achievement and proud moment for the GRA team. This award reinforces our dedication to a tobacco-free society and achieving greater public health milestones, ensuring a healthier future for all Gambians.”
Reacting to this award, Mr Darbo stated: “I am equally happy to receive this award from WHO.”
“It is all the reflection of the good work we are doing for the country. People have realised it and awarding us for a job well done.”
“The work we are doing is a team work, I therefore dedicate these awards to my hard working and professional staff of GRA.”
“We will keep the momentum at work so that we achieve more results for our digitalization and efficiency in our work.”
The recipients of the 2024 World No Tobacco Day awards, by WHO region, are as follows:
African Region
Mr Yankuba Darboe, Commissioner General, Gambia Revenue Authority, Republic of the Gambia
Ms Gormwa Gotus, Kaduna State Educator, Tobacco Abstinence Club, Federal Republic of Nigeria
Tobacco Abstinence Club, Federal Republic of Nigeria
Region of the Americas
Dr Vera da Costa e Silva, Head of the National Commission for the Implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, Federative Republic of Brazil
Dr Alberto José de Araújo (in memoriam), Federative Republic of Brazil
Dr Antônio Pedro Mirra (in memoriam), Federative Republic of Brazil
Gustavo Sóñora, Regional Director of Tobacco Control, Latin America, Vital Strategies, Eastern Republic of Uruguay
Ms Carolina Giraldo Botero, Congresswoman, Republic of Colombia
Corporación Colombiana de Padres y Madres - Red PaPaz, Republic of Colombia
Ms Gianella Severini, Senior Legal Coordinator, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Argentine Republic
Eastern Mediterranean Region
Mr Husain Ali Alrayes, Health Inspection Supervisor, Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Bahrain
Dr Wagdy Amin, National Tobacco Control Observatory, Arab Republic of Egypt
Directorate General of Standards and Metrology, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment, Sultanate of Oman
Madinah Health Cluster, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Mr Moncef Boukthir, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Republic of Tunisia
European Region
Professor Charlotta Pisinger, University of Southern Denmark, Kingdom of Denmark
Ms Mervi Hara, Executive Director, ASH Finland, Republic of Finland
Dr Francisco Rodríguez Lozano, Chair of the Board, Cancer Patients Europe Association, Kingdom of Spain
Ms Helen Stjerna, Secretary General, A Non Smoking Generation (NGO), Kingdom of Sweden
NGO A Non Smoking Generation, Kingdom of Sweden
Ministry of Health, Ukraine
Lviv Oblast Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the Ministry of Health, Ukraine
Dr Raouf Alebshehy, Tobacco Control Research Group, University of Bath, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
South-East Asia Region
Ministry of Railways, People’s Republic of Bangladesh
Odisha State Tobacco Control Cell, Republic of India
Dr Widyastuti Soerojo, Health Policy Forum, Republic of Indonesia
Thailand Youth Institute, Kingdom of Thailand
Alcohol and Drug Information Centre, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Western Pacific Region
Hangzhou Municipal People’s Government, People’s Republic of China
Mr Jose Enrique S. Garcia III, Provincial Governor of Bataan, Republic of the Philippines
HealthBridge Foundation of Canada, HealthBridge Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
