Every May 31, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and partners mark World No Tobacco Day (WNTD), highlighting the risks associated with tobacco use and advocating for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption. The Ministry of Health through Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) is organising this year's celebration under the theme, 'Tobacco a Threat to Health, Environment and Development' which will take place at Nyamirambo Stadium in Kigali. According to WHO, about 6 million people die from tobacco use every year. 

Over a decade ago, I met a newborn who forever changed my life. But I was not able to change hers. I knew immediately that without health interventions, this precious baby would likely die. There I was. Another white girl. Standing in a remote village outside of Solwezi, Zambia. There to learn but frozen with emotion. There to help but without the tools. I had a bachelor of arts from Millsaps College. I was no doctor. It was my first trip to rural Africa, and I was both hopeless and overwhelmed.

Stephen Harper once said that meeting celebrities wasn't his ``shtick'' -- but it seems he's had a change of heart. The prime minister is granting an audience to U-2 frontman Bono, who's coming to Ottawa on Monday. Bono, who's known as much for his humanitarian efforts and AIDS activism as he is for his music, will also meet with N-D-P Leader Tom Mulcair and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau.