The media can contribute significantly towards curbing the tobacco epidemic as there is overwhelming evidence across many countries. Mrs Vini Mahajan, Principal Secretary, Departments of Health, Family Welfare and Medical Education, Govt. of Punjab while inaugurating the State Level Advocacy workshop on Role of Media and civil society in Tobacco control here today said that the developing world will account for 70% of the estimated 10 million deaths caused by Tobacco and become the focus of the Global Tobacco Control Movement by the year 2030.She said that studies in different countries have concluded that ban on surrogate advertising have resulted in reductions in consumption up-to 4 to 9 %. In Addition to the bans, it is imperative that the media be mobilised to advocate the public health and economic argument against tobacco. The challenge therefore, is to make the media a partner and a champion of the Tobacco Control Programme.Mrs Mahajan told that the objectives of the workshop were to sensitize media and civil society regarding the importance of tobacco control and their roles. She said Punjab is a perfect example, where Anti-Tobacco act COTPA has been quiet effectively implemented with the close cooperation between Govt., Media and Civil Society. She added that Chewable tobacco has already been banned in the state of Punjab since one and half years. She said that already 16 districts are declared Tobacco Smoke free and the department is determined to make entire Punjab Tobacco Smoke Free in the next few months.
Sh. Hussan Lal, Secretary, Health-cum- Managing Director, National Health Mission gave a presentation regarding Advancing Tobacco Control under NHM Framework. He told that district tobacco control cell and district cessation center is being established in Baatinda this year under National Tobacco Control Program. In next 3 years similar activities will be undertaken in12 districts. Dr. Karanjit Singh, Director Health & Family Welfare Punjab told about the achievements of tobacco control in the state of Punjab. He said 16 out of 22 districts have already been declared as tobacco smoke free on the basis of compliance studies by PGI Chandigarh. Compliance study has also been completed in district Jalandhar that is likely to be tobacco smoke free within a week. Dr Rakesh K Gupta, State Program Officer, Tobacco Control Cell, Punjab shared an overview of the challenges faced in implementation of tobacco control act and maintenance of tobacco smoke free status of the districts. Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, Professor and Surgeon at Tata memorial hospital presented the data of the population based cancer registry. He said that 3 -4 of the top 5 cancers in most registries are caused by tobacco. He emphasized on putting ban on packaged/processed flavoured chewing tobacco.Eminent print as well as electronic media personalities and representatives of the civil societies also attended the workshop.