The Cameroonian parliamentary network on tobacco control(Oxygen) came together on December 3^rd 2015, objective build best tobacco control strategies in Cameroon.

In Cameroon, the tobacco epidemic is taking questionable proportions. According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS Cameroon 2013) conducted by the Ministry of Public Health in collaboration with the National Institute of Statistics, more than 1100 000 adults are regular users of tobacco and 6 720 000 people are exposed to secondhand smoke in all public places and to the same risk like smokers.It is in this context that the Cameroonian parliamentary network on tobacco control (Oxygen), gathered on Thursday 03^rd December 2015 at Hôtel des députés Yaounde. Chaired by Hon. LAOUSSOU Pierre,the Secretary General of Oxygen Network, the encounter had as objective: the evaluation and outcome of activities implemented in 2015, the review of the action plan of the Oxygen Network, and the appointment of focal points of the network in Regions.

In his keynote speech, Hon. LAOUSSOU reminds parliamentarians on the dangers related to the consumption of tobacco. Looking at the results of GATS, he insisted on the necessity to protect populations from this epidemic. To do this, the Secretary General of the Oxygen Network, presented the gathering as an opportunity of ameliorating strategies and actions of parliamentarians in tobacco control. Hon. LAOUSSOU concluded his speech by congratulating the minister of Public Health for the creation of Multisectoral anti-tobacco Commission.

After two hours of intensive reflection on the amelioration of tobacco control in Cameroon, it came out from this gathering that the Oxygen Network action will be based on the sensitization of parliamentarians and populations on the dangers of tobacco. The year 2016 will equally focus particularly on the follow up and advocacywith an outcome of an anti-tobacco proposed bill. The said proposed bill is found actually at the Presidency of the Republic.

To reach these objectives, the Oxygen Network is represented by 10 focal points in Regions. These focal points have as mission to implement advocacy towards regional authorities and the sensitization of populations in regions.

For more efficiency in their actions, the members of the Oxygen Network have presented the wish that Senators be integrated in the network. This will enable the implication of parliamentarians of the houses and best defend the rights of Cameroonian populations.