WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY 2018 –  GOA

DATE: 30 MAY 2018

STATE PARTNER- NATIONAL ORGANISATION FOR TOBACCO ERADICATION (NOTE)

To celebrate World No Tobacco Day Consumer VOICE along with its partner organisation NOTE India organised public event on May 30^th 2018 to highlight the harmful effects of tobacco, tobacco industry tactics and the need for effective tobacco control polices and measures in state of Goa in association with the Department of Public health, & Goa Dental College.

The workshop was inaugurated by Mr. Amarjeet Singh, Advisor Legal & Projects, Consumer VOICE in the presence of Dr. Rupa Naik CMO &in charge non- communicable disease cell GHS, Dr. MaximianoD’SA, CMO RNTCP, Dr AmitaKamat from dental college and Dr. Shekhar Salkar Secretary NOTE India.

Dr Salkar gavea presentation on the ill effects of tobacco. Mr. Amarjeet Singh spoke about tobacco control policies and stressed the need of policy change to have tobacco vendor licensing and prohibition of sale of single cigarettesto save younger generation from tobacco trap. Dr Rupa Naik presents data of national tobacco control program in Goa.

Dr AmitaKamat presented role of dentist and what their dental college is doing for tobacco control.  Mr Richards from FDA Dept highlighted what he has done for implementing Goa Public Health Act and COTPA.

Two award winning films of 2017 were shown to the participants. Workshop was attended by around 80 people including the stakeholders. Finally, Dr Salkar concluded by stressingthe need of community participation and to have a program on the line of traffic sentinel project which is a great success. People can take a photo and send to the enforcing agency or NGOand thenthe agency will take care of the complaint. Methodology will be worked out after speaking to Collector and DGP of Goa state and the government.

On 31st May,an award ceremonywas organized along with the screening of anti-tobacco film during second anti-tobacco festival. It had 42 entries from all over India either for 2 minutes advertisement or 8 minutes short film. This was organised by Entertainment Society of Goa with public health Dept and Goa Dental College. Gokarma oncological Medical trust sponsoring the show. Dr. Salkar was one of the jury to select the best film.

WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY 2018 – MOHALI, PUNJAB

DATE:31 MAY 2018

STATE PARTNER- CITIZENS AWARENESS GROUP

Citizens Awareness Group, in collaboration with Consumer VOICE, organised a seminar at Hotel Mirage in Sector 70, Mohali, Punjab on May 31, 2018. The seminar involved experts and local authorities who deliberated on ill-effects of tobacco and the increased consumption in Punjab.The event was inaugurated with the lighting of the lamp by Chief Guest Shri Balbir Singh Sidhu, Hon’ble Minister for Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Labour Minister government of Punjab.Surinder Verma, Chairman, Citizens Awareness Group, said that every year this day reminds us of the need to spread awareness on the ill-effects of tobacco. While welcoming the delegates he said, it was indeed a pleasure to have experts and senior government functionaries to deliberate on the issue.

Balbir Singh Sidhu, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Labour Minister said while the government has been taking all steps to spread awareness about ill-effects of tobacco, when NGOs also take up the cause, it always helps in reaching out to the general public in an effective manner. Rita Bhardwaj, Chief Medical Officer, spoke on the measures being taken to curb the menace and also shared details on cancer cases being reported at government hospitals.Dr. S.P.Sureela, Chief Medical Officer (Retd.) spoke on the ill effects of Tobacco and laid stress on the provision of COTPA. He also requested the local residents to help in taking action against vendors violating the rules.

Addressing the audience Ekta Purohit Manager Projects & CSR Consumer VOICE said that the GATS 2017 data shows increase in tobacco consumption in the state of Punjab.This indicates the need for more stringent provisions of the COTPA and need of policies like vendor licensing.Dr Ashish Arora, Consultant Internal Medicine, Paras Bliss Hospital, Panchkula said that tobacco chewing and smoking is a major modifiable health risk factor.  It is responsible for oral diseases including oral and gastrointestinal cancers, precancerous conditions, pulmonary disease, cardiovascular diseases, stroke. Smoking (Bidi and Cigarettes) and tobacco use (in other forms) leads to premature deaths because of various diseases caused by its use. Dr. Rajendra P Shetty, Senior Consultant Pediatric Gastroenterology, Paras Bliss Hospital, Panchkula said, Tobacco addiction is very difficult to get rid of and is one of the leading cause of death. Smoking can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, reproductive problems, dental diseases, cancer in lungs, throat, stomach, mouth and pancreas. Shri. P.S.Virdi, President of Mohali Consumer Federation also spoke on ill effects of Tobacco and requested the audience to take pledge to stay away from Tobacco.The event was attended by more than 60 people including, doctors, representatives from media, local residents, NGO volunteers and social activists.The seminar ended with question answer session followed by lunch.

WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY 2018 – VIJAYAWADA, ANDHRA PRADESH

DATE:31 MAY 2018

STATE PARTNER- CONSUMERS GUIDANCE SOCIETY

The Consumers Guidance Society, Vijayawada in collaboration with the Consumer VOICE organised an open house discussion on 31^st May to markthe World No Tobacco Day2018 at the conference Hall, Press Club, Gandhinagar, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. The inaugural function of the workshop was presided over by Dr. P V V S Murthy, President, Andhra Pradesh Federation of Consumer Organizations.

Around 80 participants from different walks of life, representing civil society organisations, academia, trade bodies, consumer organisations took part in the event. Shri Hemant Upadhyay, Advisor IT and Projects, ConsumerVOICE made a power point presentation regarding the deleterious effects of tobacco on the health and well-being of people, thesocial, economic and ecological costs of tobacco on the society and pro-active initiatives already made by some State Governments and Municipal Corporations by designing and implementing vendor licensing for Tobacco and its allied products.

Dr. Kannan, Professor and Dean, Narayana Medical College, Nelloreand arenowned Anti- Tobacco interventionist shared his vast experience with the victims of tobacco consumption as an interventionist and the factors that motivate people to take to tobacco consumption both smoke and smokeless. Dr.A. Jaya Prakash, JointSecretary, A.P. Federation of Consumer Organisations spoke on the easy availability of Tobacco and allied products to children and youth in the nearbyschools, colleges and religious places and the need to put in place compulsory vendor licensing to keep the children and youth away from the influence of these hazardous products. Dr. Ch. Divakarbabu, Secretary, Consumers Guidance Society spoke on the need to design and implement holistic governmental policies in addressing the issueeffectively by integrating anti-tobacco programme in every tobacco related National disease policy. Some of the valuable suggestions put forward by the participants were implementing of Vendor Licensing and COTPA.

WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY 2018 – AMBALA, HARYANA

DATE:31 MAY 2018

STATE PARTNER- CITIZENS AWARENESS GROUP

To commemorate the World No Tobacco Day, Citizens Awareness Group, in collaboration with Consumer VOICE, organised a public event at Hotel Indian Roller, Ambala Cantt, Haryana. The event highlightedill-effects of tobacco, need of effective tobacco control policies including vendor licensing and growing consumption of tobacco in Haryana.

The inaugural address was delivered by Surinder Verma, Chairman, Citizens Awareness Group, who stressed the need of awareness among people and ill effects of Tobacco.

Brig. (Dr.) Rajeshwar Singh, Director Medical Oncology from IVY Hospital Mohali was the Chief Guest. Dr. Rajeshwar spoke on the ill effects of tobacco. Dr.Singh elaborated about the various diseases including cancer caused by the usage of Tobacco. He also spoke on precaution and regular checkup to avoid cancer.Addressing the audience Ekta Purohit, Manager Projects & CSR,Consumer VOICE shared the data of Haryana Tobacco users, she also emphasized how small children are targeted to consume this poison. ArchanaPuri, social activist highlighted about the menace of tobacco through her poems.The event was attended by more than 80 people which included students, doctors, media persons, local residents andrepresentatives from civil societies.The workshop ended with question and answer session followed by high tea.

WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY 2018 – JAMSHEDPUR, JHARKHAND

DATE:31 MAY 2018

STATE PARTNER- JANAKI FOUNDATION

The Janaki Foundation, along with Consumer VOICE organised the World No Tobacco Day event on 31st Mayat Tulsi Bhawan, Jamshedpur. It was attended by 50+ persons from various walks of life. Mr. Ashish Kumar inaugurated the session with a welcome address to all the participants. Dr. Maheshwar Prasad, District Civil Surgeon, East Singhbhum was the Chief Guest. He blessed the event by lighting the lamp.He spoke about the ill effects of tobacco usage on the cardiovascular system.

VOICE Representative Mr. Amrit Sindhu also enlightened the audience on the tactics deployed by Tobacco industry and the harm caused due to 2nd & 3rd hand smoke. The session was moderated by Mr. A.K.Tiwari, CEO, JF and Mr. Ashok, Dy. Registrar, Cooperatives, Govt. of Jharkhand. The roundtable discussion ended with question answer session followed by lunch. Media people raised questions on the current status of tobacco control in the state.