Press Interaction in Goa on Tobacco Control by Consumer Voice

National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE) and Consumer VOICE, Delhi organized a press interaction meet on April 6, 2018 at International Centre Goa (ICG), Dona Paula. The purpose of this meet was to discuss various pressing issues related to tobacco use and how media can play an effective role in tobacco control.

Tobacco kills over 7 million people each year, and, if current trends persist, tobacco will cause 1 billion deaths this century, mostly in low- and middle-income countries. Addressing a press conference in Goa, AshimSanyal, COO Consumer Voice welcomed the decision of the Health Ministry and said that the“Health Ministry has implemented from April 2016, large pictorial health warnings occupying 85 percent on both sides of all tobacco packages of cigarettes, bidis and all forms of chewing products. He also said said that the vendor licensing is an effective way to manage random sale of tobacco products and aims at controlled sales through registered vendors.” Mr Sanyal also hailed the Government’s decision of introducing ‘Quit Today,’ a toll free helpline number to be printed on all tobacco products.

Goa is a real good example of tobacco control achievements through a partnership between Government and civil society organisations. However more needs to be done to eradicate the tobacco menace.

Dr.ShekharSalkar , Head of Department, Oncology, Manipal Hospital Goa and President National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE)who is championing the tobacco control initiatives in Goa pointed out several instances of violation of laws and said that the work needs to be amplified to reach to the goa population to encourage them to participate in the process of tobacco control. He also raised concerns about the increase in the number of female smokers in the state.

AshimSanyal also raised the concern of about the youth getting attracted to electronic smoking and heat not-burn tobacco. He also underlined the need for amending the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act. The Global Adult Tobacco Survey India 2016-17 has revealed that 9.7 per cent of Goa’s population consumes tobacco, 6.5 per cent of which consume smokeless tobacco.

Media has great role to play in saving lives of millions of fellow Indian and to save younger generation from falling into the deadly tobacco trap.

The meet was a successful one and though more efforts are needed, it is a start in the right direction.