Kohima, May 22 (DIPR): National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) Nagaland, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW) is organising a one day State Level Advocacy workshop to sensitize for effective implementation of the Tobacco Control Laws’ Act on May 27, 2009 at Zonal hall, Kohima.
In Nagaland 67.9% males and 28.1 % females use tobacco in one form or the other. Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of death in the world. It causes 1 in 10 deaths among adults worldwide. The latest round of National Family Health Survey-III, 2005-06 indicates an increasing prevalence of tobacco consumption in India with 57% males and 10.9% females reported to be consuming tobacco in some form or the other. These records are according to GSPS 2003, NFHS-2, DHFW oral disease surveillance 2007.
The exercise involves diverse stakeholders, officials from the State Government Departments (Health, Police, School Education, Higher Education, Information Technology & Technical Education, Transport, Municipal Authorities, Rural Development, Food & Drug Administration, Taxes & Excise, Forest, Tourism, Industry, Social Welfare, Youth resources & Sports, Women Development, Law & Justice etc), likewise from the Central Government Departments – CRPF, Assam Rifles, BSF, Railways, Airports Authority of India, Representatives from Academic Institutions and civil society organisations. The Advocacy workshop aims to help sensitize and build upon strong synergistic action by all concerned on tobacco control laws in the state.
Tobacco has become a major public health problem with very high socio economic and health costs. However, most people are not informed all the health consequences of tobacco consumption. Realising the need for concerted efforts, the global community has negotiated the first public health treaty, namely, WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) which was adapted by World Health Assembly in 2003. India was one of the first countries that ratified the treaty in 2004. FCTC identifies key strategies for reduction of demand and reduction of supply like, complete ban on advertising and sponsorship, sale of tobacco products to and by minors, complete ban on smoking in public places, health warnings including pictorial warnings on tobacco products, mass media campaigns, controlling illicit trade/smuggling progressively raising taxes and looking at alternative employment opportunities and alternate cropping.
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India introduced:
The Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement & Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply & Distribution) Act 2003.
The Act is applicable to all products containing tobacco in any form (cigarettes, cigars, cheroots, bides, gutka, pan masala, khaini, mawa, mishri, snuff etc) and extends to whole of India.
The main provisions of the Act are:
• Prohibition of smoking in Public places. (Section-4)
• Prohibition of advertisement, promotion & sponsorship of tobacco products. (Section-5)
• Ban on sale of tobacco products to and by minors (below the age of 18 yrs). (Section-6)
• Ban on sale within an area of 100 yards of any educational institutions. (Section-6 b)
• Mandatory depiction of pictorial health warnings on tobacco products packs. (Section-7)
• Mandatory depiction of Tar and Nicotine content and its permissible limits. (Section-11)
Tobacco control measures go much beyond the ambit of Ministry of Health & Family and this truly requires a multi-sect oral approach. We need to address the concern of those who are involved and affected by use of tobacco. There is a strong need for multi-sectoral approach involving state government, other Central Government departments and various other stakeholders for tobacco control in India. It is imperative that all stakeholders are adequately informed, sensitized to public health concerns on tobacco control.
 MEETING RESOLUTION.JPG)
