Documentos de Académico
Documentos de Profesional
Documentos de Cultura
WHO
Countrys Position
Drugs have variable categories. Common ones include heroin, cocaine and cannabis.
There are also numerous methods of using drugs, such as inhalation, smoking, consuming,
absorbing, or injecting with a needle. Signs of addiction may be evident once people fall under
the influence of drugs. The United Nations has certain treaties on drug use. The Single
Convention on Narcotic Drugs in 1961 aims to combat drug abuse by coordinating international
action. There are two forms of intervention and control that work together. First, limiting the
possession, use, trade in, distribution, import, export, manufacture and production of drugs
exclusively to medical and scientific purposes. Second, combating drug trafficking through
international control system for psychotropic substances. It responded to the diversification and
expansion of the spectrum of drugs of abuse and introduced controls over a number of synthetic
drugs according to their abuse potential on the one hand and their therapeutic value on the other.
Drugs usage is a common problem on a global scale and a still-lingering issue in the
North African country of Tunisia. Since January 14th 2011, teenager drugs abuse became an
unprecedented problem in Tunisia. Some high school students even went to class under the
influence of drugs. Dealers existed everywhere around high schools. Buying and selling drugs in
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front of school gate were not controlled or stopped by school police. At the same time, the price
of common drugs was cheap, ranging from 1.5 dollars to 6 dollars; this created opportunities for
students to engage in new types of drugs. However, many Tunisian students did not think that
consuming drugs was illegal behavior, as exemplified by a high school student in the Riyadh
district of La Marsa claiming that he didnt understand why they don't legalize drug use, as they
have done in some European countries." (Zebais). The feeling of drugs could make them forget
the dangers or health issues that caused by drugs. "I feel good when I smoke marijuana. It calms
my nerves, I relax, and the world becomes beautiful. There is no way I could give up my daily
marijuana cigarette." (Essam) As students situations worsened, teachers and principal had to use
violence to keep them in line. As a result, the verbal and physical assault between students and
teachers increased. Furthermore, the cause of drugs using among high school was concluded as
lack of care from school and family. This comes in light of an absence of any form of control,
and because the educational system is preoccupied with political developments and security
problems plaguing the country. The Ministry of Education is becoming aware of the dangers
posed by this problem and its seriousness. This pushed it to organize an awareness week at the
beginning of January and to distribute fliers to pupils. Furthermore, the ministry has organized
awareness campaigns within institutions and held a conference that brought together
representatives from educational institutions, civil society, and relevant ministries to discuss the
situation and find solutions. The participants agreed to develop a joint action plan to fight drug
use, to intensify awareness campaigns throughout the year, and to develop mechanisms for
Tunisia has had laws concerning drug use for more than twenty years. However, Law 52
was considered as a tough law which people had deprecation on it. The Al Sajin 52 ruled that
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smoking zatla, or cannabis resin, is punishable by between one and five years in jail. It was
with the same law prohibiting judges from passing lighter sentences for extenuating
circumstances. According to a statistic data, it shows that nearly tens of thousands of Tunisians
have been convicted because of Law 52. As a result, more than half of the 13,000 people in pre-
trial detention, and around one third of Tunisias 11,000 convicts were arrested for drugs abuse,
and cannabis in particular. (Afrique) If you smoke a joint in Tunisia, you risk getting arrested,
beaten up by the police, sent for a urine test, and then sentenced to a year in an overcrowded
prison with hardened criminals as your cellmates. (Guellali). The harsh law did not help high
school students or adults get rid of drugs. In an opposite way, some people more preferred to try
to break the law, to challenge the government. Some examples demonstrated that the law
adversely affected young peoples life. Others just smoke a joint or just have their first try on
drugs; but they were arrested as soon as they were caught. There was no process of teaching
them why consuming drug is dangerous and harmful. After they came out of the jail. others
would belittle on them. The law is over reacted on drugs problems; and that destroyed young
peoples life. However, the phenomenon of consuming drugs among high schools did not get
better. Moreover, in society, people felt that the law was unreasonable. It did not have any effect
on controlling drugs. Human Rights Watch has long documented the human rights violations that
accompany the criminalization of drug use. Throughout the world, there has been individual and
collective devastation resulting from this war on drugs, often accompanied by racial or social
discrimination and typically affecting the most disadvantaged populations. This is no different in
Tunisia.
Drug consumption is first considered as a health issue, especially for young people. The
use of needles is a common cause of HIV/AIDS. Most abused drugs directly or indirectly target
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the brain's reward system by flooding the circuit with dopamine. When the drugs enter the brain,
they can actually change how effectively the brain functions, leading to potential issues, such as
a weakened the immune system, increased susceptibility of infections and heart attacks. (Zebais)
However, according to Law 52 in Tunisia, the drug using is more considered as crime issues.
Even smoking is relating to drugs over time. As of December 15, 2015, 7,451 people convicted
of drug related offenses were in Tunisias prisons 7,306 men and 145 women according to
the Justice Ministrys General Administration of Prisons and Rehabilitation. About 70 percent of
them about 5,200 people were convicted of using or possessing cannabis, called zatla in
Tunisia. People convicted of drug offenses constitute 28 percent of the total state prison
population. (Guellali) Obviously, the issues of drugs in Tunisia squint towards crimes.
Recently, health ministry director general Nabil Ben Salah said the health and justice
ministries are trying to "humanise" the legislation, although decriminalising the drug is not an
option."People tend to trivialise the effects of cannabis whereas it's very harmful, especially for
adolescent brains, it can destroy a huge number of brain cells. (Aiba) A reform under
consideration would authorise judges to take mitigating circumstances into account before
passing judgement, said Ben Salah. But lawyer Ghazi Mrabet, a founding member of Al Sajin
52, said the whole system was resistant to change because of a lucrative business connected to
cannabis-related arrests. "People come to see me whose child has been arrested for [cannabis]
use who are ready to do anything to prevent them going to jail," including paying bribes to police
and magistrates, the lawyer explained to AFP. "When I refuse, they turn to other lawyers, who,
according to what clients tell me, who make sure the urine test is negative or the name disappears
from police reports," he said. At the other end of the spectrum, "some judges end up with tears in
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their eyes as they deliver the verdict" because they have to hand down jail terms, he said, calling
Proposed Solution
1. Based on the Republic of Tunisias recent situation, a new drug law is drafting. The new law
will be reasonable on punishment processes of drug users. The Republic of Tunisia gives these
byelaws:
i. The new law will rule clearly about dosage of drug using. (Ranging from different
kinds of drugs) Arrested drug users will take urine drug test first. If the dosage of drug is in a
safe dose, the user will be given warning on record instead of one year or seven months jail time
as before.
ii. The arrested drug users who do not have any records related to drug use before, will
not be convicted at the first offense, but will be given warning on their records.
iii. The most important problems are in high schools. So, the drug using will be
completely banned in high school. To accomplish this goal, government of Tunisia will add more
school policies in each high school. The dealers in front of school will be arrested for at least
iv. For the citizens in the Republic of Tunisia, drug production can only be for medical
purposes. The total amount of production must be reported to local offices. The offices will give
2. In order to improve the problem in on students about drug using, the Republic of Tunisia
advises WHO to establish a periodic urine drug test for high school students. For every month,
each school will ask student to report their testing results. For students who are tested as drug
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using, they will receive warning from school district. After that, they have to take the lessons
relate to dangers of drugs. The teaching of the dangers of drugs is much more important than
directly arresting. The purpose of WHO is to let people know the harm of drug using in order to
eliminate the phenomenon from its root. Furthermore, because the periodic urine drug test will
be taken in high school, the cost of the test will be directly charged on government.
3. The last proposed solution for WHO to solve the problem of drug using is to propagandize the
dangers of consuming drugs. Some students may know about it, some may not. So, it is
necessary to make everyone know the harm of drug; give them the conception of drug.WHO can
1. The problems of drug using are in different levels and different situations based on the
geography of each country. As countries in North Africa like the Republic of Tunisia or like
Colombia, the tropical type climate gives these countries opportunities to produce drugs. Some
of the productions are used for medicines; however, majority of them are used for selling,
exporting or economic purpose. People in these countries or around the global may know the
negative or dangerous effects of consuming drugs. But they cannot eliminate the phenomenon
completely. When the benefits are worth to even risking life, people will not think the misused
drug as a dangerous behaviour. Moreover, for some new drug users, they will be attracted by the
cheap price. Drugs can make people easy to addicting. The influences on psychology will make
people get deeper into drug. At that time, although they want to stop it, it will be hard to control
themselves.
2. As the recent legalization of marijuana exists in U.S. and some European countries, the health
problem has increased as a result. For example, Colorado in U.S. became the legalization state of
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marijuana. Following the amendments passage, Colorado had just six months to create a legal
and regulatory framework for the growing, sale and distribution of recreational cannabis. At that
time, medical marijuana, which was recognized by the state in 2000, remained largely
unregulated, lacking rules governing dosage, purity, growing practices, etc. (Haun) When people
notice that it is legal to smoke weed, they will consume more than they did before. The
transporting of marijuana between states also increases. The most important issue is concerned to
high school students. The dealer of weed will be more active around high schools than before. If
young people start consuming marijuana from high school age, that will be resulted as serious
health problem such as heart attack or even AIDS. Moreover, the death rate of drug using will
3. The reconciliation of traditional used drug and recreational drug use can be accomplished
through limit the amount of drug producing. If people just produce the amount of drug which is
enough for medical purpose use, there will not be left for people who use it as illegal. Also,
government can hand out permission on drugs. If people want to produce drugs for medical
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Work Cited
Afrique, Jeune. "Cannabis: Why It Is Urgent to Reform the "law 52" in Tunisia." Marijuana
<http://420intel.com/articles/2016/02/04/cannabis-why-it-urgent-reform-law-52-tunisia>.
Aiba, Ines Bel. "Rights Group: Tough Laws Wrong Response to Tunisia's Drugs Problem."
Middle East Eye. Middle East Eye, 7 May 2014. Web. 19 Feb. 2016.
<http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/rights-group-tough-laws-wrong-response-tunisias-
drugs-problem-102744812>.
"Convention on Psychotropic Substance 1971." United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2016. Web. 16 Feb. 2016.
<https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/treaties/psychotropics.html>.
"Effects of Drug Abuse and Addiction." Gateway Foundation. Gateway Alcohol and Drug
resources/drug-addiction-effects/>.
Guellali, Anna. "In the Joint for a Joint: Tunisia's Repressive Drugs Law." Human Rights Watch.
<https://www.hrw.org/news/2014/05/30/joint-joint-tunisias-repressive-drugs-law>.
Haun, Marjorie. "The Unexpected Side Effects of Legalizing Weed." Newsweek. The Daily
effects-legalizing-weed-339931>.
Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. United
<https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/treaties/single-convention.html>.
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"Tunisia: Widespread Abuses Under Drug Law." Human Rights Watch. Human Rights Watch,
widespread-abuses-under-drug-law>.
Zebais, Henan. "Tunisia Sees Sharp Rise in Drug Use Following Revolution - Al-Monitor: The
Pulse of the Middle East." Al-Monitor. Al-Monitor, 03 Feb. 2013. Web. 19 Feb. 2016.
<http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/culture/2013/02/drug-use-increase-tunisia.html>.
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The Republic of Tunisia
WHO
In Tunisia, the prevalence of non-communicable diseases has been on the rise since 1990;
for example, ischemic heart disease, stroke, diabetes, lung cancer, and chronic kidney cancer
have all become imminent leading causes of death. In 2014, NCDs accounted for 82% of deaths
in Tunisia (Somai). Since NCDs typically require extended periods of healthcare treatment, it
exacerbates the situation, into what can be described as a national health emergency.
As a result, the Republic of Tunisia has begun to direct its efforts on mitigating this
pressing matter. Article 38 of Tunisias Constitution dictates that health is a human right,
whereby the state has guaranteed free healthcare for the poor. Through a European Union-funded
project, Policy Dialogue on Health Policies, Strategies and Plans, a consultative process
informing citizens of medium- and long-term reform orientations to decrease health inequities,
and to better respond to expectations of the population and the changed demographic and
FAO, UNAIDS, UN Women, UNOPS, WFP, OHCHR, UNHCR, and WB, are present in Tunisia
to help deal with this issue. The United Nations Development Action Framework 2015-2019
economic model; 3. equal social protection and access to social services for all people. By using
a combination of these three strategic approaches, the UNDAF has five strategic priorities, the
first two of which target communicable diseases and non-communicable diseases. Regarding
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communicable diseases, Tunisia and WHO plan to enact monitoring of multisectoral action for
controlling vector-borne diseases and a vaccine action plan with emphasis on reaching out to the
diseases, nutritional standards will be set and intervention measures to prevent disorders for
Furthermore, as a member of the African Union, Tunisia attended the World Health
Organization (WHO) and African Union Commission (AUC) Joint Meeting for African
Ministers of Health Luanda, Angola. The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Luis Sambo,
asserted that it was necessary that expert knowledge and solutions were imperative, should
Africa wish to mitigate the effect of the double burden of disease. Additionally, Ambassador
Olwale Maiyegun, Director of Social Affairs of the African Union, expressed the viewpoint of
AU member states in his statement that the AUC considers disease, not only as a health matter,
but as a human development issue. (Africas Health Challenges). According to Stefano Lazari,
the Tunisian representative to WHO, Tunisia has the best health indicators across the board of
all the countries in North Africa [due to] a large number of qualified specialists, strong public
and private hospitals, good equipment and a high level of service (Chipman). Moreover, at least
90% of Tunisian citizens have access to basic levels of health care, to preserve the overall
national health, and improved medical education, to produce a stabler health system.
However, one central concern that Tunisia faces is the economic, and consequently,
health care-related inequities within its population and regional areas. Tunisians in wealthier
areas have access to far superior medical services and equipment, while those in poorer areas are
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Since Africa was previously primarily plagued with infectious diseases, its health care
programs are centered around short-term aid, but not focused on the numbers of chronic diseases
that are creeping up rapidly. To exacerbate the situation, the elongated longevity of its
population, in comparison with prior decades, is placing an immense strain on its already limited
Donor funding is one of the main branches of support for healthcare in most African
First, donor funding tends to be short-term, and relies on financing from foreign
from continued global economic instability. Second, donor funding has traditionally been
comprehensive healthcare system that Africa will require in the future. (Chipman).
Proposed Solution
disparity in the quality of medical services and healthcare access between the rich and the poor
these less fortunate areas, in order to thoroughly monitor the condition and effectiveness of the
medical facilities located there. In addition, it is their responsibility to contact the necessary
personnel or attain the resources crucial to rectifying any conditions that are insufficient or
ineffective in these areas. Direct medical relief, if applied to its full extent, will effectively
is essential to focus a greater proportion of reform efforts on the younger generation because the
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chronic conditions, known as NCDs, generally culminate from the effects of ones habits as an
adolescent. One solution would be to install a more persistent educational campaign, one that is
integrated into the school education system and entails exactly what constitutes a healthy diet
and a proper exercise regime. Admittedly, these messages likely will not have drastic effects on
the health of children, but they are intended to give them a more salutary perspective of how to
live their daily lives. To actually facilitate the reduction of NCDs in the developing generation,
teaching and advocating in schools is not enough; through all other forms of media, the
government should promote the concept of eating healthy and exercising, while portraying
Focusing still on targeting NCDs, the government should set certain nutritional standards
that must be met by consumer food products and restaurants; otherwise, the government will
have the jurisdiction to publicly condemn the aforementioned product. Additionally, it will
become necessary to raise prices not just on tobacco and alcohol, but also on the foods that fail to
providing solutions to ubiquitous communicable diseases, which have troubled Africa for
decades. The rise of NCDs must not be overlooked, however, as previously undeveloped or
underdeveloped areas grow more and more urbanized. It is time that healthcare be geared
towards more long-term diseases. If the trained medical officials and personnel within Tunisia
are not adequately prepared to meet the needs of the people, NGOs and other medical institutions
can be brought in to expand their education, thereby enhancing the health care abilities of these
developing areas.
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1. Located in northern Africa near the equator, Tunisias warm, humid weather makes it far more
conducive for mosquitos and other bacteria and viruses to survive than less tropical countries.
Communicable diseases for which mosquitoes are responsible in Tunisia include yellow fever,
dengue fever, cholera, and West Nile Virus ("Geography Influences Economic Growth"). This,
combined with the severe inequity in the distribution of economic resources in Tunisia, expedites
the spread of communicable diseases. In addition, if a region is mostly desert, the lack of rainfall
results in lowered crop output, which may increase the ubiquity of non-communicable diseases,
such as obesity and heart disease, due to the restricted availability of natural produce.
2. For a developing country, insufficient economic funds and health resources may pose a
problematic obstacle in tackling the issue of double burden of disease. Currently, many low-
income countries have been highly dependent on community volunteers and external funding,
with only two bilateral donors (MDGs to SDGs). Delegates to the First Global Ministerial
that NCDs cause 60 percent of global deaths, 80 per cent of which occur in developing
implications at a tender age, education for schoolchildren and young families is critical in order
to set them on a proper path for healthful success. Installing educational programs is not a cost-
heavy burden, therefore making it a feasible option for developing countries. While these
educational campaigns can help to drastically ameliorate the health decisions that youth are
making, consequently affecting their potentials for NCDs, said campaigns can also help to
diminish the immense numbers affected by CDs by offering methods of protection against
environmental deterrents. For example, reiterating the importance of mosquito netting can help
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3. In relation to well-developed countries, the responsibility of making healthful food decisions
and maintaining appropriate exercise levels falls mainly upon the individual. Since these
resources are more readily available in developed countries, the individual is within full power to
decide if he should make use of them; whereas in underdeveloped and developing nations, these
resources are scarce and unattainable for vast portions of the population. Without a better
alternative, residents of these poorer countries are confined to a lifestyle that will presumably
lead to long and short term health burdens. As a result, it falls upon the national government or
4. Although the exact effect of double burden of disease on refugee population is unknown, the
issue is prevalent amongst refugees. A 2010 study conducted in Algerian refugee camps found
that in women, 14.8% were stunted and 71.4% had central obesity, while in children, 29.1%
were stunted and 2.4% were overweight (Grijalva-Eternod). These statistics indicate that while
the immediate nutrition and health care relief provided to the refugees does save lives in the short
run, the content of the nutritional supply does not protect them from developing chronic diseases
related to malnourishment. As obesity and diabetes are on the rise in many developing areas,
including refugee camps, it is imperative to partition the efforts of relief groups to increase focus
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References:
"Africas Health Challenges Require Concerted Action from All Stakeholders." World Health
<http://www.afro.who.int/en/media-centre/pressreleases/item/6468-africa%C2%B4s-
health-challenges-require-concerted-action-from-all-stakeholders.html>.
Chipman, Andrea. The Future of Healthcare in Africa. Rep. Ed. Stephanie Studer and Aviva
<http://www.economistinsights.com/sites/default/files/downloads/EIU-
Janssen_HealthcareAfrica_Report_Web.pdf>.
Mlody C. Tondeur, Carmen Dolan, Chafik Meziani, Caroline Wilkinson, Paul Spiegel,
and Andrew J. Seal. "The Double Burden of Obesity and Malnutrition in a Protracted
<http://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1001320>.
"How Geography Influences Economic Growth." PovertyEducation.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb.
2016. <http://www.povertyeducation.org/geography-and-economic-growth.html>.
Somai, Melek. "Global Burden of Diseases : Tunisia." Ideas about Public Health in Tunisia.
burden-of-disease-tunisia>.
The Future of Healthcare in Africa. Rep. Janssen, 2012. Web. 17 Feb. 2016.
<http://www.economistinsights.com/sites/default/files/downloads/EIU-
Janssen_HealthcareAfrica_Report_Web.pdf>.
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"The World Factbook." Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, 11 Feb. 2016.
factbook/geos/ts.html>.
<http://www.who.int/countryfocus/cooperation_strategy/ccsbrief_tun_en.pdf>.
<http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=38238#>.
WHO. Health in 2015: From MDGs to SDGs. Publication. World Health Organization, Dec.
SDGs2015_chapter5.pdf?ua=1>.
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