BACKGROUND AND IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES: Tobacco control law implementation in Bangladesh faces several challenges, including limited law enforcement capacity, inconsistent monitoring, and inadequate communication between stakeholders. Sanitary Inspectors (SIs), as key field-level authorized officers for tobacco control (TC) law implementation, often lack the training and resources to navigate the complexities of TC laws, address lawsuits, and overcome field-level implementation challenges. This gap hampers effective implementation and monitoring, leading to partial compliance with TC regulations.
INTERVENTION OR RESPONSE: To address these challenges, a comprehensive training program was designed and delivered to 444 SIs across Bangladesh, focusing on tobacco control law implementation in the field level. A WhatsApp group was established during the training to serve as a dynamic platform for SIs to share their field experiences, consult with advocates and higher authorities on legal matters, and discuss implementation challenges. Additionally, based on feedback from participants, two key initiatives were taken: revising the Terms of Reference (ToR) for tobacco control taskforces to enhance their functionality and creating an online reporting system with a standardized template to improve monitoring and reporting of TC law implementation activities.
RESULTS AND IMPACT: The training have significantly strengthened the capacity of SIs to enforce tobacco control laws. The WhatsApp group facilitated real-time communication, enabling timely legal consultations and peer support. Taking initiatives for revising ToR for taskforces will streamline their operations, while the online reporting system will ensure more efficient and consistent monitoring. Collectively, these measures will improved compliance rates and bolster the overall implementation mechanism for TC laws in Bangladesh.
CONCLUSIONS: This initiative demonstrates the value of integrating training, digital platforms, and stakeholder feedback to address gaps in tobacco control law implementation. This approach empowered SIs and established sustainable mechanisms for effective monitoring and implementation, serving as a model for other low- and middle-income countries to strengthen tobacco control and public health.