Tobacco Free Network - the actions of tobacco users and survivors: advocacy on enforcing tobacco control legislation and behavioural change in Tamil Nadu, India
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Tobacco Free Network, India
Publication date: 2018-03-01
Tob. Induc. Dis. 2018;16(Suppl 1):A640
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KEYWORDS
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ABSTRACT
Background and challenges to implementation:
Tobacco use is a
major public health challenge in India with 275 million adults consuming
different tobacco products, of which 28,064,400 people above the age of 15 y/o are
in Tamil Nadu. Chewable tobacco is the most prevalent - India carries the highest
amount of mouth cancer cases in the world and it is more common among women. India
passed a ban on chewable tobacco in September 2016 but the implementation lacks
enforcement. 90,3% of smokeless tobacco consumers reported no difficulty in
purchasing banned chewable tobacco in Tamil Nadu. The Government of India has passed
legislation for tobacco control but it is not rigorously implemented. This
is attributed to a lack of awareness and penalties. For this reason advocacy, community-based
action and social mobilisation are required.
Intervention or response:
We have
mobilised tobacco users and survivors throughout Tamil Nadu and formed a strong
network for tobacco control. We equipped them with the skills for advocacy at
the top level for sensitizing authorities and government officials. This was also
enforced through advocacy in the media.
Results and lessons learnt:
From January´16 until now we have mobilised 645
members. They are creating a domino-effect in their communities and at the higher level by spreading awareness about tobacco control legislation and the need
for proper implementation. Organisations from the public and private sectors,
as well as the media, are used as advocacy leverage because they provide a
leeway into government officials which we can influence enforce the tobacco
control legislation.
Conclusions and key recommendations:
The network of tobacco users and survivors is a
powerful means to sensitize health authorities and government officials and to
advocate for the enforcement tobacco control legislation at the local, state and
national level.