India: Action Plan on Tobacco Control Proposed

Source from:  The Hindu 07/09/2015

An action plan on tobacco control was proposed in collaboration with the Health Department, The International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, New Delhi, and Jipmer, as part of the deliberations of a recently-concluded workshop conducted by the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine at Jipmer in partnership with The Union and School of Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh.

The action plan will involve various government sectors and civil society, said a release from the institute.

Puducherry recorded a prevalence of 15 per cent current tobacco users (smoked and smokeless) according to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (2009-10), and age of initiation of tobacco at 18 years, similar to all India figures, said the release.

Project on assessment

Participants conducted a short project on assessment of compliance indicators of existing tobacco control legislation through a field trip. The workshop was attended by 60 MPH trainees, postgraduate students and faculty from Jipmer, other medical colleges in Puducherry and representatives from the Health Department.

It was inaugurated by Subhash Chandra Parija, director, Jipmer, in the presence of Rana J Singh, Senior Technical Advisor, The Union, Gautam Roy, professor, PSM, Jipmer and Sitanshu Sekhar Kar, associate professor.

Impact

Health and socio-economic impacts of tobacco use, epidemiology, risk factor approach to non-communicable diseases, role of family and community, civil society and health professionals in tobacco control, multi-sectoral approach in tobacco control, existing national programme and tobacco control policies, legislation, economics of tobacco control and endgame strategies proposed for tobacco control in different countries were some of the topics discussed.

Sonu Goel from School of Public Health, PGIMER, helped in capacity building of the participants in conducting operational research on tobacco control.

Cyril Alexander, national convener of the National Forum for Tobacco Eradication, explained about the mobile phone app, 'Tobacco Monitor,' that was launched as part of the World No-Tobacco Day 2015.

The app facilitates the public to register 28 different violations such as smoking in public places, advertisement of tobacco smoking and sale of tobacco to minors that will be forwarded to the State tobacco control cell. Enditem