Thai Rock Band Urges Youth to stay away from Cigarettes
Jittima Jantanamalaka
A Thai Rock Band group by the name of Mulatto is really creating waves these days in Thailand. It can really be called a smoke free and environment friendly band, as all its members are non smokers. They come from different backgrounds but all have one thing in common – none of them ever liked the smell of cigarettes. It always made them feel dizzy, and not euphoric, as their music does.
Rock band members are generally supposed to be ‘cool guys’ and are very often role models of the youngsters. Well the four members of this band are musicians with a mission --- the mission to spread awareness about the lethal hazards of smoking.
Despite growing up in a society which thrives on cigarettes, they have shunned this evil since their childhood. They were drawn to music instead, since early childhood.
The singing voice of the band, Nat Sonkasertrin (M), was brought up in a slum, which abounded with smokers. Yet from his early childhood he decided not to smoke as the cigarette smoke always irritated his eyes and throat.
His father was a confirmed smoker; puffing away two packs a day, since the age of sixteen. By the time he was 50 years old, he developed lung cancer and has hence been deprived of one of his lungs. His sufferings proved to be a blessing in disguise for his son M, who vowed never to light a cigarette.
Ton, the drummer had childhood friends who smoked. Once, one of his friends was injured, along with many others due to an accident caused by smoking.
This year on ‘World No Tobacco Day’, the WHO has focused its attention on pictorial health warnings on tobacco packs, as 5.4 million people worldwide continue to be snapped down by preventable diseases caused by smoking. In fact, this year the ‘Action On Smoking and Health Foundation’ (ASH) from Thailand was awarded internationally for its efforts in enforcing pictorial warnings on cigarette packs. Yet, according to the Ministry of Health Thailand, the country has 9.5 million smokers, out of which 1.27 million are youths. Increasing the price of cigarettes too has not been much of a deterrent. But perhaps gory pictures on cigarette packs will have more profound effect on the smokers’ psyche.
Bands like Mulatto can really act as brand ambassadors for anti smoking campaigns. Its members mince no words when they compare cigarettes to narcotics, and one of them feels that smoking should be made illegal. Despite the high risks involved, adolescents continue to be drawn to smoking, sometimes due to peer pressure and sometimes to simply make a fashion statement, thinking it is cool to smoke. Movie stars shown smoking in films, (like the one named 2499, about Thai mafia) add fuel to the desire of smoking, as the youth always try to emulate them.
Mulatto carries its message to all its concert shows, asking the young audience, in a very subtle way to quit smoking. Rather than condemn or force, they talk to them with sincerity. They tell them, ‘We care about you and we love you. So for the sake of friendship please do not smoke.’ Beautiful thoughts indeed! Since they are in a very cool and happening profession, their abstinence at once awes and inspires their audience.
Let us hope on this No Tobacco Day that there will be more such dedicated artists, urging people to make music instead of smoke.
Jittima Jantanamalaka
[The author is the Director of Jay Inspire, Thailand]
Related clip by Jay Inspire, Thailand:
World No Tobacco Day 2009: Youth & Tobacco Health Warning(with English sub-title)
Showing posts with label World No Tobacco Day 2009. Show all posts
Showing posts with label World No Tobacco Day 2009. Show all posts
Strictly enforce smoke-free policies! Quit tobacco before it’s too late
Strictly enforce smoke-free policies! Quit tobacco before it’s too late
There was a growing consensus to strictly enforce smoke-free policies at the public symposium organized by the department of Surgery, Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University to mark the World No Tobacco Day. Vice Chancellor Prof (Dr) Saroj Chooramani Gopal and Justice Shabibul Hasnain were the chief guests, and Superintendent of Police (SP) City Harish Kumar was the guest of honour.
“Scientific evidence has unequivocally established that tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke causes death, disease and disability. There is clear scientific evidence that prenatal exposure to tobacco smoke causes adverse health and developmental conditions for children. Secondhand smoke exposure causes heart disease and lung cancer in nonsmoking adults. Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work increase their heart disease risk by 25–30% and their lung cancer risk by 20–30%.There is no risk-free level of secondhand smoke exposure. India enforced the ban on smoking in public places on 2 October 2008 and we must join hands to implement it effectively” said Prof (Dr) Saroj Chooramani Gopal.
“Effective pictorial warnings can save lives” said Professor (Dr) Rama Kant, Head of Surgery Department, CSMMU and a World Health Organization (WHO) International Awardee for the year 2005 on tobacco control.
“Pictorial health warnings are most effective way of broadcasting health messages across wide spectrum of population about the adverse health effects of tobacco use. Pictorial warning labels detract from the glamour and appeal of tobacco products and help to create an environment where ‘tobacco-free’ is the norm” said Prof Rama Kant.
“Effective warning labels increase knowledge about risks associated with tobacco use more effectively than text-only warnings. In a country like India where one-third of the population is illiterate, pictorial warnings can communicate health messages effectively and prevent uptake and motivate tobacco user to quit” further added Prof Rama Kant. “Countries with strong and effective pictorial warnings are experiencing major reduction in tobacco use” explained Prof Rama Kant.
However in India the pictorial warnings that are going to be implemented from 31 May 2009 are mild, weak and not field tested, said Professor (Dr) Rama Kant. As per the new rules notified on May 3, 2009, pictorial warnings would be displayed only on the 40% of the principal display area of the front panel of all tobacco packs (only ONE side of tobacco pack).
“Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of disease and death in the world. According to the World Health Organization, each year 5.4 million lives are lost all over the world because of tobacco use. Out of these 9 lakh deaths occur in India alone. 2500 Indians lose their lives each day because of tobacco use. India has the highest number of oral cancer cases in the world and 90% of all oral cancers are tobacco related and 40% of all cancers in India are due to tobacco use” said Dr Vinod Jain, Assistant Professor in Surgery department, CSMMU, and Vice-President of Indian Medical Association (IMA) Lucknow.
Posters on grow without tobacco theme were also displayed. An elocution engaging school students against tobacco took place as well. Many NGOs including Bharat Vikas Parishad, UP Voluntary Health Association, Abhinav Bharat Foundation, Samadhan, Asha Parivar, Indian Society Against Smoking (ISAS) and others too part.
There was a growing consensus to strictly enforce smoke-free policies at the public symposium organized by the department of Surgery, Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University to mark the World No Tobacco Day. Vice Chancellor Prof (Dr) Saroj Chooramani Gopal and Justice Shabibul Hasnain were the chief guests, and Superintendent of Police (SP) City Harish Kumar was the guest of honour.
“Scientific evidence has unequivocally established that tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke causes death, disease and disability. There is clear scientific evidence that prenatal exposure to tobacco smoke causes adverse health and developmental conditions for children. Secondhand smoke exposure causes heart disease and lung cancer in nonsmoking adults. Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work increase their heart disease risk by 25–30% and their lung cancer risk by 20–30%.There is no risk-free level of secondhand smoke exposure. India enforced the ban on smoking in public places on 2 October 2008 and we must join hands to implement it effectively” said Prof (Dr) Saroj Chooramani Gopal.
“Effective pictorial warnings can save lives” said Professor (Dr) Rama Kant, Head of Surgery Department, CSMMU and a World Health Organization (WHO) International Awardee for the year 2005 on tobacco control.
“Pictorial health warnings are most effective way of broadcasting health messages across wide spectrum of population about the adverse health effects of tobacco use. Pictorial warning labels detract from the glamour and appeal of tobacco products and help to create an environment where ‘tobacco-free’ is the norm” said Prof Rama Kant.
“Effective warning labels increase knowledge about risks associated with tobacco use more effectively than text-only warnings. In a country like India where one-third of the population is illiterate, pictorial warnings can communicate health messages effectively and prevent uptake and motivate tobacco user to quit” further added Prof Rama Kant. “Countries with strong and effective pictorial warnings are experiencing major reduction in tobacco use” explained Prof Rama Kant.
However in India the pictorial warnings that are going to be implemented from 31 May 2009 are mild, weak and not field tested, said Professor (Dr) Rama Kant. As per the new rules notified on May 3, 2009, pictorial warnings would be displayed only on the 40% of the principal display area of the front panel of all tobacco packs (only ONE side of tobacco pack).
“Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of disease and death in the world. According to the World Health Organization, each year 5.4 million lives are lost all over the world because of tobacco use. Out of these 9 lakh deaths occur in India alone. 2500 Indians lose their lives each day because of tobacco use. India has the highest number of oral cancer cases in the world and 90% of all oral cancers are tobacco related and 40% of all cancers in India are due to tobacco use” said Dr Vinod Jain, Assistant Professor in Surgery department, CSMMU, and Vice-President of Indian Medical Association (IMA) Lucknow.
Posters on grow without tobacco theme were also displayed. An elocution engaging school students against tobacco took place as well. Many NGOs including Bharat Vikas Parishad, UP Voluntary Health Association, Abhinav Bharat Foundation, Samadhan, Asha Parivar, Indian Society Against Smoking (ISAS) and others too part.
Pictorial Health Warnings on all Tobacco Products in India from May 31, 2009
Pictorial Health Warnings on all Tobacco Products in India from May 31, 2009
India would be joining the league of public health champions by implementing pictorial health warning on all tobacco product packages from May 31, 2009, which also coincides with World No Tobacco Day and its theme “Show the Truth, Picture Warnings Saves Lives”.
Pictorial health warning labels effectively communicate the risks of tobacco use. Extensive research from across the globe has established that effective health warnings increase knowledge about risks associated with tobacco use and can decrease intentions to use tobacco among vulnerable youth and persuade tobacco users to quit. Graphic warnings have a greater impact than text-only ones and can be recognized by low-literacy audiences and children-two vulnerable population groups. The warnings have been introduced in several developing and countries such as Thailand, Singapore, Brazil, Chile, South Africa and others.
According to Ms. Monika Arora, Director-HRIDAY (Health Related Information Dissemination Amongst Youth), a member NGO of AFTC (Advocacy Forum for Tobacco Control), engaged in youth centric tobacco control awareness and advocacy campaigns, and Convenor AFTC- “To save lives of millions of people from tobacco related deaths and diseases, AFTC has been instrumental in undertaking collaborative advocacy campaign with Parliamentarians at the center for effective implementation of pictorial health warnings on all tobacco products. As a run up to the World No Tobacco Day, which also coincides with India’s deadline to implement pictorial health warnings on tobacco products, AFTC has undertaken a concerted advocacy campaign in 12 states of India to advocate this issue at the state level by interacting with policy makers, opinion makers and general public. AFTC is advocating for support from these important stakeholders at each state level to support effective implementation of pictorial health warnings in India through effective enforcement and monitoring procedures and emphasizing the need for stronger, field tested health warnings in the next round due in May 2010.”
Indian Society Against Smoking (ISAS) on behalf of a coalition of 56 pan-India organizations working for tobacco control in India, the AFTC, has released an information package to state level policy makers, opinion makers and leading regional newspapers. This package comprises of cards with pertinent information regarding burden caused by tobacco in India, international obligations and global best practices and also scientific data that pictorial health warnings have proved to be in interest of public health, in the countries wherever they have been implemented.
The intent of the AFTC advocacy campaign is to support the effective implementation of the current notified warnings as well as to implement stronger warnings in the next round. The present set of notified warnings are mild, diluted (occupies 40% of the front panel) and moreover they are not field tested. India requires stronger and field tested warnings to reduce tobacco related deaths and diseases.
India would be joining the league of public health champions by implementing pictorial health warning on all tobacco product packages from May 31, 2009, which also coincides with World No Tobacco Day and its theme “Show the Truth, Picture Warnings Saves Lives”.
Pictorial health warning labels effectively communicate the risks of tobacco use. Extensive research from across the globe has established that effective health warnings increase knowledge about risks associated with tobacco use and can decrease intentions to use tobacco among vulnerable youth and persuade tobacco users to quit. Graphic warnings have a greater impact than text-only ones and can be recognized by low-literacy audiences and children-two vulnerable population groups. The warnings have been introduced in several developing and countries such as Thailand, Singapore, Brazil, Chile, South Africa and others.
According to Ms. Monika Arora, Director-HRIDAY (Health Related Information Dissemination Amongst Youth), a member NGO of AFTC (Advocacy Forum for Tobacco Control), engaged in youth centric tobacco control awareness and advocacy campaigns, and Convenor AFTC- “To save lives of millions of people from tobacco related deaths and diseases, AFTC has been instrumental in undertaking collaborative advocacy campaign with Parliamentarians at the center for effective implementation of pictorial health warnings on all tobacco products. As a run up to the World No Tobacco Day, which also coincides with India’s deadline to implement pictorial health warnings on tobacco products, AFTC has undertaken a concerted advocacy campaign in 12 states of India to advocate this issue at the state level by interacting with policy makers, opinion makers and general public. AFTC is advocating for support from these important stakeholders at each state level to support effective implementation of pictorial health warnings in India through effective enforcement and monitoring procedures and emphasizing the need for stronger, field tested health warnings in the next round due in May 2010.”
Indian Society Against Smoking (ISAS) on behalf of a coalition of 56 pan-India organizations working for tobacco control in India, the AFTC, has released an information package to state level policy makers, opinion makers and leading regional newspapers. This package comprises of cards with pertinent information regarding burden caused by tobacco in India, international obligations and global best practices and also scientific data that pictorial health warnings have proved to be in interest of public health, in the countries wherever they have been implemented.
The intent of the AFTC advocacy campaign is to support the effective implementation of the current notified warnings as well as to implement stronger warnings in the next round. The present set of notified warnings are mild, diluted (occupies 40% of the front panel) and moreover they are not field tested. India requires stronger and field tested warnings to reduce tobacco related deaths and diseases.
Large comprehensive pictorial warnings on tobacco products are more effective
Large comprehensive pictorial warnings on tobacco products are more effective
An advocacy card in Hindi language for pictorial warnings on tobacco products was released by Professor (Dr) Rama Kant, Head of Surgery Department, Chhattrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University (CSMMU) at the UP Press Club in Lucknow today. Professor (Dr) Rama Kant is also a World Health Organization (WHO) International Awardee for the year 2005 on tobacco control.
This advocacy card produced by Indian Society Against Smoking, Asha Parivar with technical help from HRIDAY, advocates that large and comprehensive pictorial warnings on tobacco products are more effective.
“In Australia, the pictorial warnings on tobacco products are 90% back and 30% front of tobacco packs, in Brazil it is 100% either of the sides, in Canada and Thailand it is 50% on both sides, in UK pictorial warnings are on 43% of front and 53% of back sides of tobacco packs” said Professor (Dr) Rama Kant.
However in India the pictorial warnings that are going to be implemented from 31 May 2009 are mild, weak and not field tested, said Professor (Dr) Rama Kant.
As per the new rules notified on May 3, 2009, pictorial warnings would be displayed only on the 40% of the principal display area of the front panel of all tobacco packs (only ONE side of tobacco pack).
“India ratified the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), the first international public health treaty of the World Health Organization (WHO) in February 2004 and is a Party to the convention. According to FCTC, the deadline for India to implement pictorial health warning was February 27, 2008. But still the tobacco products in India do not carry any pictorial health
warnings. Also FCTC recommends 30 % as minimum size of display of pictorial health warnings i.e. 30% front and 30% back, which India has again not complied with” said Professor (Dr) Rama Kant.
“Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of disease and death in the world. According to the World Health Organization, each year 5.4 million lives are lost all over the world because of tobacco use. Out of these 9 lakh deaths occur in India alone. 2500 Indians lose their lives each day because of tobacco use. India has the highest number of oral cancer cases in the world and 90% of all oral cancers are tobacco related and 40% of all cancers in India are due to tobacco use” said Professor (Dr) Rama Kant.
An advocacy card in Hindi language for pictorial warnings on tobacco products was released by Professor (Dr) Rama Kant, Head of Surgery Department, Chhattrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University (CSMMU) at the UP Press Club in Lucknow today. Professor (Dr) Rama Kant is also a World Health Organization (WHO) International Awardee for the year 2005 on tobacco control.This advocacy card produced by Indian Society Against Smoking, Asha Parivar with technical help from HRIDAY, advocates that large and comprehensive pictorial warnings on tobacco products are more effective.
“In Australia, the pictorial warnings on tobacco products are 90% back and 30% front of tobacco packs, in Brazil it is 100% either of the sides, in Canada and Thailand it is 50% on both sides, in UK pictorial warnings are on 43% of front and 53% of back sides of tobacco packs” said Professor (Dr) Rama Kant.
However in India the pictorial warnings that are going to be implemented from 31 May 2009 are mild, weak and not field tested, said Professor (Dr) Rama Kant.
As per the new rules notified on May 3, 2009, pictorial warnings would be displayed only on the 40% of the principal display area of the front panel of all tobacco packs (only ONE side of tobacco pack).
“India ratified the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), the first international public health treaty of the World Health Organization (WHO) in February 2004 and is a Party to the convention. According to FCTC, the deadline for India to implement pictorial health warning was February 27, 2008. But still the tobacco products in India do not carry any pictorial health
warnings. Also FCTC recommends 30 % as minimum size of display of pictorial health warnings i.e. 30% front and 30% back, which India has again not complied with” said Professor (Dr) Rama Kant.“Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of disease and death in the world. According to the World Health Organization, each year 5.4 million lives are lost all over the world because of tobacco use. Out of these 9 lakh deaths occur in India alone. 2500 Indians lose their lives each day because of tobacco use. India has the highest number of oral cancer cases in the world and 90% of all oral cancers are tobacco related and 40% of all cancers in India are due to tobacco use” said Professor (Dr) Rama Kant.
Nip The Problem In The Bud - Nay The Leaf - in lead up to World No Tobacco Day (31 May) -
- in lead up to World No Tobacco Day (31 May) -
Nip The Problem In The Bud - Nay The Leaf
Tobacco is the only consumer product which is grown and available legally and is lethal for human beings. At the current rate, the number of smokers dying every year in the world is likely to reach (10 million) 1 crore by 2020.
In India tobacco kills 1 million (10 lakhs) people annually.
Tobacco definitely is a global health epidemic, whose rapid spread around the world presents daunting challenges to policy makers and people engaged in public health concerns. Yet one finds an unacceptable contradiction here. Tobacco control policies and tobacco promotion measures seem to be coexisting comfortably. On one hand we have governments all over the world, initiating well deserving measures to combat tobacco consumption, while on the other hand, they continue to promote cultivation, sale, trade and export of tobacco and its products.
While I was in Mumbai attending the 14th World Conference on Tobacco or Health (WCTOH), I met a noted writer who said she was unable to understand the logistics of tobacco control. She echoed the sentiments of several others that the best solution to the problem would be to stop growing tobacco and stop manufacturing its products. Why produce the poison and then go all out to prevent its usage?
India is one of the signatories to the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), thereby agreeing to implement its provisions. FCTC is the first global corporate accountability and public health treaty. As a Party to the treaty, India is obligated to take measures to bring down the consumption and production of tobacco in the country. It is the latter, which merits serious attention in order to achieve the former.
It makes sense that the strong legislative efforts of our government to curb tobacco use, sale and advertising need to be supported by proper and stricter enforcement. But far more important is to back these measures by comprehensive policies that have far reaching effects on tobacco cultivation and on manufacturing of all tobacco products like cigarettes, bidis, chewing tobacco, snuff and other localized versions. There is no safe way to use tobacco – whether inhaled, sucked, sniffed or chewed, and there are no safety levels.
The main reasons cited for this dual behaviour are the economic dependence of the tobacco growing farmers and the bidi rollers on this activity and of the government on the revenue collections. But if we delve a little deeper in the issue, then the reality will be different from these arbitrary assumptions. The task to overcome these ‘obstacles’ should not be as formidable as it appears to be.
Tobacco cultivation in India , especially the Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco used for cigarette making, has been enjoying government support for decades.
The area under tobacco cultivation is presently 368.5 thousand acres, which is less than 0.3% of the net sown area in the country. Around 3 to 5 lakh farmers are engaged in this activity. Tobacco farming is seasonal and restricted to a few states only, with Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Orissa accounting for more than 90% of the total tobacco cultivation. It is easy for government to intervene as around 35% of tobacco crop area is governed by the rules of Tobacco Board, Government of India.
Case studies/experiments carried out by tobacco research centres suggest alternative crops like soybean, groundnut, different varieties of gram, maize, paddy, mustard, sunflower, cotton, sugarcane etc. which yield almost similar returns and are far more eco and health friendly. In fact, in some states tobacco has sadly replaced cultivation of food crops like jowar, maize and ragi - which were once called the poor man’s food, and are now high even on the health conscious’ diet chart. This shift from growing tobacco to something healthier can only affect the economic status of the farmers in a positive way. Of course, the government will have to provide them incentives by way of technical know how, seeds and marketing links for the alternate crops.
Supply of tobacco products from external sources, both legal and illegal will also have to be controlled. India is a lucrative market for foreign cigarettes and cigars. The government would therefore need to ban the import of tobacco products and foreign direct investments in the tobacco sector.
Another populist argument given in favour of tobacco production is the dependence of about 4 lakh people (two thirds of whom are women) on bidi rolling as a major economic activity. But the ground reality is that bidi manufacturing is the most exploitative work, wherein most of the workers (more than 50%) do not get even the minimum wages. This industry is largely in the unorganized sector. Manufacturers easily resort to all sorts of underhand dealings to evade excise duty as well as circumvent the minimum wages act. Many children are also engaged in this activity in direct contravention of the Child Labour (Prohibition) Act.
A recent study, initiated by Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI), on the bidi workers from the districts of Murshidabad in West Bengal and Anand in Gujarat has brought out their dismal health and socio economic conditions. The study revealed that most of the respondents (more than 76%) earn a measly sum of Rs.33 per one thousand bidis that they rolled in more than 12 hours. This is much below the minimum wage of Rs.40 per day. Coupled with poor wages are the deplorable working conditions. The bidi workers are constantly exposed to the grave risk of contracting tuberculosis, asthma, lung disease and spinal problems. Women who carry their infants to work expose them to hazardous tobacco dust and fumes. Occurrence of asthma and respiratory / skin diseases is very common in children engaged in bidi manufacturing. Moreover, they have to juggle school with bidi rolling, and often discontinue after the primary level (especially the girls) to engage full time in bidi rolling to augment family income.
A whopping 95% of the respondents wanted to shift from their present occupation, to some other livelihood, with some external support.
Regarding the fiscal benefits accruing to the government from revenue collection, here again facts are very different from fiction. According to a study reported in the January 2009 issue of Tobacco Control (a publication of the British Medical Journal), India spends more on treating tobacco related diseases than it collects by way of taxes from the tobacco industry. The study used the data from the National Sample Survey conducted in 2004.
The total economic cost of tobacco use in India (direct and indirect) amounted to US $1.7 billion in 2004. This is 16% more than the total excise tax revenue of $1.46 billion collected from all tobacco products in India in the same period. It is also many times more than the expenditure on tobacco control measures.
Global tobacco production has almost doubled since the 1960s. In 2006, world tobacco production totaled nearly 7 million metric tones, with 85% of the leaf grown in low and middle resources countries. Even the Tobacco Atlas published by the American Cancer Society recognizes that tobacco agriculture creates extensive environmental and public health problems. The WHO agrees that tobacco cultivation creates extensive environmental and public health problems. Pesticide/fertilizer run offs contaminate water resources. Curing of tobacco leaf with wood fuel leads to massive deforestation. Agricultural workers, even if they do not consume tobacco, suffer from pesticide poisoning, green tobacco sickness and lung damage from particulate tobacco smoke and field dust.
The FCTC rightly calls for financial/technical assistance to tobacco growers, so that they may shift to nutritious, economically viable and environmentally sound livelihood alternatives. Unskilled bidi workers will have to be found alternate employment with the help of public – private partnership. The time is ripe to focus not only on reducing tobacco consumption but also to question state support to tobacco cultivation. Tobacco control cannot be effective unless its supply is restricted and gradually stopped altogether. India cannot afford to continue exhibiting the dual policy of control of tobacco consumption and promotion of tobacco cultivation / production of tobacco products, side by side. Tobacco kills 1 million people in India annually.
A planned and phased reduction in tobacco production is going to benefit all. People employed in retailing, processing and in industries manufacturing cigarettes / chewing products can get alternate employment. In fact, most of the tobacco multinationals have diversified into other businesses and should be encouraged to close down their ‘poison manufacturing units’ in the name of corporate social responsibility.
Let the Asian Tiger take the lead in this matter for the rest of the world to follow.
Shobha Shukla
(The author is the Editor of Citizen News Service (CNS) and also teaches Physics at India's prestigious Loreto Convent. Email: shobha@citizen-news.org, website: www.citizen-news.org)
Nip The Problem In The Bud - Nay The Leaf
Tobacco is the only consumer product which is grown and available legally and is lethal for human beings. At the current rate, the number of smokers dying every year in the world is likely to reach (10 million) 1 crore by 2020.
In India tobacco kills 1 million (10 lakhs) people annually.
Tobacco definitely is a global health epidemic, whose rapid spread around the world presents daunting challenges to policy makers and people engaged in public health concerns. Yet one finds an unacceptable contradiction here. Tobacco control policies and tobacco promotion measures seem to be coexisting comfortably. On one hand we have governments all over the world, initiating well deserving measures to combat tobacco consumption, while on the other hand, they continue to promote cultivation, sale, trade and export of tobacco and its products.
While I was in Mumbai attending the 14th World Conference on Tobacco or Health (WCTOH), I met a noted writer who said she was unable to understand the logistics of tobacco control. She echoed the sentiments of several others that the best solution to the problem would be to stop growing tobacco and stop manufacturing its products. Why produce the poison and then go all out to prevent its usage?
India is one of the signatories to the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), thereby agreeing to implement its provisions. FCTC is the first global corporate accountability and public health treaty. As a Party to the treaty, India is obligated to take measures to bring down the consumption and production of tobacco in the country. It is the latter, which merits serious attention in order to achieve the former.
It makes sense that the strong legislative efforts of our government to curb tobacco use, sale and advertising need to be supported by proper and stricter enforcement. But far more important is to back these measures by comprehensive policies that have far reaching effects on tobacco cultivation and on manufacturing of all tobacco products like cigarettes, bidis, chewing tobacco, snuff and other localized versions. There is no safe way to use tobacco – whether inhaled, sucked, sniffed or chewed, and there are no safety levels.
The main reasons cited for this dual behaviour are the economic dependence of the tobacco growing farmers and the bidi rollers on this activity and of the government on the revenue collections. But if we delve a little deeper in the issue, then the reality will be different from these arbitrary assumptions. The task to overcome these ‘obstacles’ should not be as formidable as it appears to be.
Tobacco cultivation in India , especially the Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco used for cigarette making, has been enjoying government support for decades.
The area under tobacco cultivation is presently 368.5 thousand acres, which is less than 0.3% of the net sown area in the country. Around 3 to 5 lakh farmers are engaged in this activity. Tobacco farming is seasonal and restricted to a few states only, with Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Orissa accounting for more than 90% of the total tobacco cultivation. It is easy for government to intervene as around 35% of tobacco crop area is governed by the rules of Tobacco Board, Government of India.
Case studies/experiments carried out by tobacco research centres suggest alternative crops like soybean, groundnut, different varieties of gram, maize, paddy, mustard, sunflower, cotton, sugarcane etc. which yield almost similar returns and are far more eco and health friendly. In fact, in some states tobacco has sadly replaced cultivation of food crops like jowar, maize and ragi - which were once called the poor man’s food, and are now high even on the health conscious’ diet chart. This shift from growing tobacco to something healthier can only affect the economic status of the farmers in a positive way. Of course, the government will have to provide them incentives by way of technical know how, seeds and marketing links for the alternate crops.
Supply of tobacco products from external sources, both legal and illegal will also have to be controlled. India is a lucrative market for foreign cigarettes and cigars. The government would therefore need to ban the import of tobacco products and foreign direct investments in the tobacco sector.
Another populist argument given in favour of tobacco production is the dependence of about 4 lakh people (two thirds of whom are women) on bidi rolling as a major economic activity. But the ground reality is that bidi manufacturing is the most exploitative work, wherein most of the workers (more than 50%) do not get even the minimum wages. This industry is largely in the unorganized sector. Manufacturers easily resort to all sorts of underhand dealings to evade excise duty as well as circumvent the minimum wages act. Many children are also engaged in this activity in direct contravention of the Child Labour (Prohibition) Act.
A recent study, initiated by Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI), on the bidi workers from the districts of Murshidabad in West Bengal and Anand in Gujarat has brought out their dismal health and socio economic conditions. The study revealed that most of the respondents (more than 76%) earn a measly sum of Rs.33 per one thousand bidis that they rolled in more than 12 hours. This is much below the minimum wage of Rs.40 per day. Coupled with poor wages are the deplorable working conditions. The bidi workers are constantly exposed to the grave risk of contracting tuberculosis, asthma, lung disease and spinal problems. Women who carry their infants to work expose them to hazardous tobacco dust and fumes. Occurrence of asthma and respiratory / skin diseases is very common in children engaged in bidi manufacturing. Moreover, they have to juggle school with bidi rolling, and often discontinue after the primary level (especially the girls) to engage full time in bidi rolling to augment family income.
A whopping 95% of the respondents wanted to shift from their present occupation, to some other livelihood, with some external support.
Regarding the fiscal benefits accruing to the government from revenue collection, here again facts are very different from fiction. According to a study reported in the January 2009 issue of Tobacco Control (a publication of the British Medical Journal), India spends more on treating tobacco related diseases than it collects by way of taxes from the tobacco industry. The study used the data from the National Sample Survey conducted in 2004.
The total economic cost of tobacco use in India (direct and indirect) amounted to US $1.7 billion in 2004. This is 16% more than the total excise tax revenue of $1.46 billion collected from all tobacco products in India in the same period. It is also many times more than the expenditure on tobacco control measures.
Global tobacco production has almost doubled since the 1960s. In 2006, world tobacco production totaled nearly 7 million metric tones, with 85% of the leaf grown in low and middle resources countries. Even the Tobacco Atlas published by the American Cancer Society recognizes that tobacco agriculture creates extensive environmental and public health problems. The WHO agrees that tobacco cultivation creates extensive environmental and public health problems. Pesticide/fertilizer run offs contaminate water resources. Curing of tobacco leaf with wood fuel leads to massive deforestation. Agricultural workers, even if they do not consume tobacco, suffer from pesticide poisoning, green tobacco sickness and lung damage from particulate tobacco smoke and field dust.
The FCTC rightly calls for financial/technical assistance to tobacco growers, so that they may shift to nutritious, economically viable and environmentally sound livelihood alternatives. Unskilled bidi workers will have to be found alternate employment with the help of public – private partnership. The time is ripe to focus not only on reducing tobacco consumption but also to question state support to tobacco cultivation. Tobacco control cannot be effective unless its supply is restricted and gradually stopped altogether. India cannot afford to continue exhibiting the dual policy of control of tobacco consumption and promotion of tobacco cultivation / production of tobacco products, side by side. Tobacco kills 1 million people in India annually.
A planned and phased reduction in tobacco production is going to benefit all. People employed in retailing, processing and in industries manufacturing cigarettes / chewing products can get alternate employment. In fact, most of the tobacco multinationals have diversified into other businesses and should be encouraged to close down their ‘poison manufacturing units’ in the name of corporate social responsibility.
Let the Asian Tiger take the lead in this matter for the rest of the world to follow.
Shobha Shukla
(The author is the Editor of Citizen News Service (CNS) and also teaches Physics at India's prestigious Loreto Convent. Email: shobha@citizen-news.org, website: www.citizen-news.org)
Size of Pictorial Warnings: Large and Comprehensive Warnings are more effective
Size of Pictorial Warnings: Large and Comprehensive Warnings are more effective
International Best Practices
Australia
Front: 30%
Back: 90%
Brazil
100% either of the sides
Canada
Front: 50%
Back: 50%
Thailand
Front: 50%
Back: 50%
UK
Front: 43%
Back: 53%
Size of Pictorial Warnings: International Best Practices
• 60% New Zealand (30% of front, 90% of back)
• 56 % Belgium (48 % of front, 63% of back, including border)
• 56 % Switzerland (48 % of front, 63% of back, including border)
• 52 % Finland (45% of front and 58% of back, including border
• 50 % Singapore (50 % of front and back)
• 50% Uruguay (50 % front and back)
• 50 % Chile (50 % front and back)
• 50 % Venezuela (100% of either front or back)
• 48 % Norway (43 % of front, 53 % of back, including border)
Indian Scenario
Pictorial Warnings previously notified by the Government
Strong and effective – field tested
In the earlier set of rules, pictorial warnings covered 50 % of the front and 50% of the back on all tobacco products.
Pictorial Warnings coming into force from May 31, 2009
Mild and weak – not field tested
As per the new rules notified on May 3, 2009, pictorial warnings would be displayed only on the 40% of the principal display area of the front panel of all tobacco packs.
International Obligation: India ratified the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), the first international public health treaty of the World Health Organization (WHO) in February 2004 and is a Party to the convention. According to FCTC, the deadline for India to implement pictorial health warning was February 27, 2008. But still the tobacco products in India do not carry any pictorial health warnings. Also FCTC recommends 30 % as minimum size of display of pictorial health warnings i.e. 30% front and 30% back, which India has again not complied with.
----------------
Credits: this advocacy card is published and distributed by Indian Society Against Smoking (ISAS), Asha Parivar. We acknowledge the financial contribution received from Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco use and technical contribution received from HRIDAY on behalf of Advocacy Forum for Tobacco Control - AFTC (Delhi).
Address: C-2211, C-Block Crossing, Indira Nagar, Lucknow-226016. India. Ph-fax: 2358230
Email: ramakant@ramakant.org, website: http://tambakooKills.blogspot.com
International Best Practices
Australia
Front: 30%
Back: 90%
Brazil
100% either of the sides
Canada
Front: 50%
Back: 50%
Thailand
Front: 50%
Back: 50%
UK
Front: 43%
Back: 53%
Size of Pictorial Warnings: International Best Practices
• 60% New Zealand (30% of front, 90% of back)
• 56 % Belgium (48 % of front, 63% of back, including border)
• 56 % Switzerland (48 % of front, 63% of back, including border)
• 52 % Finland (45% of front and 58% of back, including border
• 50 % Singapore (50 % of front and back)
• 50% Uruguay (50 % front and back)
• 50 % Chile (50 % front and back)
• 50 % Venezuela (100% of either front or back)
• 48 % Norway (43 % of front, 53 % of back, including border)
Indian Scenario
Pictorial Warnings previously notified by the Government
Strong and effective – field tested
In the earlier set of rules, pictorial warnings covered 50 % of the front and 50% of the back on all tobacco products.
Pictorial Warnings coming into force from May 31, 2009
Mild and weak – not field tested
As per the new rules notified on May 3, 2009, pictorial warnings would be displayed only on the 40% of the principal display area of the front panel of all tobacco packs.
International Obligation: India ratified the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), the first international public health treaty of the World Health Organization (WHO) in February 2004 and is a Party to the convention. According to FCTC, the deadline for India to implement pictorial health warning was February 27, 2008. But still the tobacco products in India do not carry any pictorial health warnings. Also FCTC recommends 30 % as minimum size of display of pictorial health warnings i.e. 30% front and 30% back, which India has again not complied with.
----------------
Credits: this advocacy card is published and distributed by Indian Society Against Smoking (ISAS), Asha Parivar. We acknowledge the financial contribution received from Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco use and technical contribution received from HRIDAY on behalf of Advocacy Forum for Tobacco Control - AFTC (Delhi).
Address: C-2211, C-Block Crossing, Indira Nagar, Lucknow-226016. India. Ph-fax: 2358230
Email: ramakant@ramakant.org, website: http://tambakooKills.blogspot.com
The Burden of Tobacco
The Burden of Tobacco
(1) Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of disease and death in the world. According to the World Health Organization, each year 5.4 million lives are lost all over the world because of tobacco use.
(2) Out of these 9 lakh deaths occur in India alone. 2500 Indians lose their lives each day because of tobacco use.
(3) India has the highest number of oral cancer cases in the world and 90% of all oral cancers are tobacco related and 40% of all cancers in India are due to tobacco use.
(4) It is estimated that by 2010, nearly 10 lakh people will die because of smoking in India and it is predicted that by 2020 tobacco will account for 13% of all deaths in India.
(5) According to the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS), 2006, 5500 Indian youth start smoking every day.
(6) Health cost of tobacco related diseases are greater than the income generated from tobacco. According to a new study the direct medical cost for treating diseases related to smoking cigarettes, bidis etc., in India is 907 million US dollars (4535 crore rupees) and for smokeless tobacco products like gutkha, zarda and khaini, this cost is 285 million US dollars (1425 crore rupees).
Credits: this advocacy card is published and distributed by Indian Society Against Smoking (ISAS), Asha Parivar. We acknowledge the financial contribution received from Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco use and technical contribution received from HRIDAY on behalf of Advocacy Forum for Tobacco Control - AFTC (Delhi).
Address: C-2211, C-Block Crossing, Indira Nagar, Lucknow-226016. India. Ph-fax: 2358230
Email: ramakant@ramakant.org, website: http://tambakooKills.blogspot.com
(1) Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of disease and death in the world. According to the World Health Organization, each year 5.4 million lives are lost all over the world because of tobacco use.
(2) Out of these 9 lakh deaths occur in India alone. 2500 Indians lose their lives each day because of tobacco use.
(3) India has the highest number of oral cancer cases in the world and 90% of all oral cancers are tobacco related and 40% of all cancers in India are due to tobacco use.
(4) It is estimated that by 2010, nearly 10 lakh people will die because of smoking in India and it is predicted that by 2020 tobacco will account for 13% of all deaths in India.
(5) According to the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS), 2006, 5500 Indian youth start smoking every day.
(6) Health cost of tobacco related diseases are greater than the income generated from tobacco. According to a new study the direct medical cost for treating diseases related to smoking cigarettes, bidis etc., in India is 907 million US dollars (4535 crore rupees) and for smokeless tobacco products like gutkha, zarda and khaini, this cost is 285 million US dollars (1425 crore rupees).
Credits: this advocacy card is published and distributed by Indian Society Against Smoking (ISAS), Asha Parivar. We acknowledge the financial contribution received from Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco use and technical contribution received from HRIDAY on behalf of Advocacy Forum for Tobacco Control - AFTC (Delhi).
Address: C-2211, C-Block Crossing, Indira Nagar, Lucknow-226016. India. Ph-fax: 2358230
Email: ramakant@ramakant.org, website: http://tambakooKills.blogspot.com
Strong Public Support for Pictorial Health Warnings- Evidence from India
Strong Public Support for Pictorial Health Warnings- Evidence from India
A study was conducted to determine the opinion of general public towards implementation of pictorial warnings on cigarette packs in India. This study was conducted in the households and colleges in different localities of Mumbai city. 712 people above the age of 15 years participated in the study.
Results:
• More than 90% people were aware that smoking causes serious health problems and it actually kills.
• Almost 90% were aware of health warnings on cigarette packs and 97% were of the opinion that pictorial warnings should be displayed on cigarette packs in India.
• 88% people strongly agreed that the health warning now proposed by the government should be improved to convey very serious diseases caused by tobacco, like cancer.
• Almost 85% people wanted strong warnings on cigarette packs to be displayed immediately.
• 68% people showed high concern for the delay in implementation of the law pertaining to pictorial health warnings.
• With pictorial health warnings:
- 32.4% respondents felt, non-smokers will think twice before starting smoking,
- 31.5% felt, smokers will think of reducing smoking,
- 23% felt, smokers will think of quitting smoking
Policy Recommendations
• Effective enforcement of current warnings on all tobacco packs.
• The current warnings must be field tested to assess their effectiveness amongst all strata of society to determine if they effectively communicate the actual health impact of tobacco use.
• The current warnings have to become stronger in the next round of rotation. These needs to be stronger in terms of size and content of pictograms.
___________________
This study was conducted by Healis Sekhsaria Institute of Public Health, Mumbai, a member organization of the Advocacy Forum for Tobacco Control (AFTC)
Credits: this advocacy card is published and distributed by Indian Society Against Smoking (ISAS), Asha Parivar. We acknowledge the financial contribution received from Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco use and technical contribution received from HRIDAY on behalf of Advocacy Forum for Tobacco Control - AFTC (Delhi).
Address: C-2211, C-Block Crossing, Indira Nagar, Lucknow-226016. India. Ph-fax: 2358230
Email: ramakant@ramakant.org, website: http://tambakooKills.blogspot.com
A study was conducted to determine the opinion of general public towards implementation of pictorial warnings on cigarette packs in India. This study was conducted in the households and colleges in different localities of Mumbai city. 712 people above the age of 15 years participated in the study.
Results:
• More than 90% people were aware that smoking causes serious health problems and it actually kills.
• Almost 90% were aware of health warnings on cigarette packs and 97% were of the opinion that pictorial warnings should be displayed on cigarette packs in India.
• 88% people strongly agreed that the health warning now proposed by the government should be improved to convey very serious diseases caused by tobacco, like cancer.
• Almost 85% people wanted strong warnings on cigarette packs to be displayed immediately.
• 68% people showed high concern for the delay in implementation of the law pertaining to pictorial health warnings.
• With pictorial health warnings:
- 32.4% respondents felt, non-smokers will think twice before starting smoking,
- 31.5% felt, smokers will think of reducing smoking,
- 23% felt, smokers will think of quitting smoking
Policy Recommendations
• Effective enforcement of current warnings on all tobacco packs.
• The current warnings must be field tested to assess their effectiveness amongst all strata of society to determine if they effectively communicate the actual health impact of tobacco use.
• The current warnings have to become stronger in the next round of rotation. These needs to be stronger in terms of size and content of pictograms.
___________________
This study was conducted by Healis Sekhsaria Institute of Public Health, Mumbai, a member organization of the Advocacy Forum for Tobacco Control (AFTC)
Credits: this advocacy card is published and distributed by Indian Society Against Smoking (ISAS), Asha Parivar. We acknowledge the financial contribution received from Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco use and technical contribution received from HRIDAY on behalf of Advocacy Forum for Tobacco Control - AFTC (Delhi).
Address: C-2211, C-Block Crossing, Indira Nagar, Lucknow-226016. India. Ph-fax: 2358230
Email: ramakant@ramakant.org, website: http://tambakooKills.blogspot.com
EFFECTIVE PICTORIALWARNINGS CAN SAVE LIVES !!
EFFECTIVE PICTORIALWARNINGS CAN SAVE LIVES !!
Pictorial health warnings are most effective way of broadcasting health messages across wide spectrum of population about the adverse health effects of tobacco use. Pictorial warning labels detract from the glamour and appeal of tobacco products and help to create an environment where ‘tobacco-free’ is the norm.
Effective warning labels increase knowledge about risks associated with tobacco use more effectively than text-only warnings. In a country like India where one-third of the population is illiterate, pictorial warnings can communicate health messages effectively and prevent uptake and motivate tobacco user to quit.
Countries with strong and effective pictorial warnings are experiencing major reduction in tobacco use. Larger the pictorial warnings on tobacco packs more are the chances of people avoiding it. Strong and effective pictorial warnings are able to realistically depict the whole trauma, agony and the pain caused to the death, disease and disability related to tobacco use.
International Evidence in support of Pictorial health warnings
• Evidence from Canada and Australia shows that pictorial warnings increase awareness about the health risks of smoking amongst smokers and reduce consumption.
• In Brazil, 54% of smokers changed their opinion on the health consequences of smoking because of the pictorial warnings and 67% of smokers said the warnings made them want to quit.
• 50 % of smokers in European Union said that warnings compel them to smoke less around other people; 31 % of ex-smokers report that picture warnings motivated them to quit.
• The results in countries having pictorial warnings have suggested that picture warnings are on an average, 60 times more effective in terms of encouraging tobacco cessation and prevention.
Credits: this advocacy card is published and distributed by Indian Society Against Smoking (ISAS), Asha Parivar. We acknowledge the financial contribution received from Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco use and technical contribution received from HRIDAY on behalf of Advocacy Forum for Tobacco Control - AFTC (Delhi).
Address: C-2211, C-Block Crossing, Indira Nagar, Lucknow-226016. India. Ph-fax: 2358230
Email: ramakant@ramakant.org, website: http://tambakooKills.blogspot.com
Pictorial health warnings are most effective way of broadcasting health messages across wide spectrum of population about the adverse health effects of tobacco use. Pictorial warning labels detract from the glamour and appeal of tobacco products and help to create an environment where ‘tobacco-free’ is the norm.
Effective warning labels increase knowledge about risks associated with tobacco use more effectively than text-only warnings. In a country like India where one-third of the population is illiterate, pictorial warnings can communicate health messages effectively and prevent uptake and motivate tobacco user to quit.
Countries with strong and effective pictorial warnings are experiencing major reduction in tobacco use. Larger the pictorial warnings on tobacco packs more are the chances of people avoiding it. Strong and effective pictorial warnings are able to realistically depict the whole trauma, agony and the pain caused to the death, disease and disability related to tobacco use.
International Evidence in support of Pictorial health warnings
• Evidence from Canada and Australia shows that pictorial warnings increase awareness about the health risks of smoking amongst smokers and reduce consumption.
• In Brazil, 54% of smokers changed their opinion on the health consequences of smoking because of the pictorial warnings and 67% of smokers said the warnings made them want to quit.
• 50 % of smokers in European Union said that warnings compel them to smoke less around other people; 31 % of ex-smokers report that picture warnings motivated them to quit.
• The results in countries having pictorial warnings have suggested that picture warnings are on an average, 60 times more effective in terms of encouraging tobacco cessation and prevention.
Credits: this advocacy card is published and distributed by Indian Society Against Smoking (ISAS), Asha Parivar. We acknowledge the financial contribution received from Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco use and technical contribution received from HRIDAY on behalf of Advocacy Forum for Tobacco Control - AFTC (Delhi).
Address: C-2211, C-Block Crossing, Indira Nagar, Lucknow-226016. India. Ph-fax: 2358230
Email: ramakant@ramakant.org, website: http://tambakooKills.blogspot.com
Cigarette tax increase will decrease number of smokers
Cigarette tax increase will decrease number of smokers
Prof. Prakit Vathesatogkit, Executive Secretary of Action on Smoking and Health Foundation welcomed the government policy of increasing cigarette tax. He believes that the tax increase will greatly benefit smokers in Thailand. This is due to the fact that the higher cigarette prices will result in people smoking less or quit completely, especially in the lower income group.
A country-wide research conducted in 2006 to evaluate the impact of tobacco tax increase, from 75% to 79% which led to 15% increase in price, found that 58% of smokers smoked less while 10% had shifted to cheaper brands of cigarettes. Furthermore, 23% purchased only single sticks and 9% switched to hand-roll cigarettes. The number of people who quit smoking completely was an impressive 10%.
Dr. Prakit said “ from 1993 through to 2007, the government of Thailand has increased tax 8 times in total. This gradually increased the price of Krongtip ( the most popular brand of cigarette) from 15 Baht per pack to 45 Baht per pack (while the latest increase leads to 56 Baht). The impact was most evident in the lower income group in Thailand, in which the smoking prevalence has declined from 42% in 1991 to only 20.7% in 2007. The household income which this group spent on cigarettes also reduced from 16.30% in 1991 to 8% in 2007.
According to the World Bank, the tobacco tax should be two-third or three- fourth (66-80%) of the retail price in order to have desirable impact in reducing tobacco use. The current tax burden on cigarette is now 69% of the retail price (or 85% of factory price plus 7% VA, 2% health tax, 1.5% Public television tax and 0.5% local tax). World Bank has recommended all governments to use Tobacco tax increase as one way to fight poverty. The obvious reason is that money saved from buying cigarettes, either by quitting or by reducing number of cigarettes, can then be spent on the improvement of healthier life-style as well as be used to support their families.
Prof. Prakit Vathesatogkit, Executive Secretary of Action on Smoking and Health Foundation welcomed the government policy of increasing cigarette tax. He believes that the tax increase will greatly benefit smokers in Thailand. This is due to the fact that the higher cigarette prices will result in people smoking less or quit completely, especially in the lower income group.
A country-wide research conducted in 2006 to evaluate the impact of tobacco tax increase, from 75% to 79% which led to 15% increase in price, found that 58% of smokers smoked less while 10% had shifted to cheaper brands of cigarettes. Furthermore, 23% purchased only single sticks and 9% switched to hand-roll cigarettes. The number of people who quit smoking completely was an impressive 10%.
Dr. Prakit said “ from 1993 through to 2007, the government of Thailand has increased tax 8 times in total. This gradually increased the price of Krongtip ( the most popular brand of cigarette) from 15 Baht per pack to 45 Baht per pack (while the latest increase leads to 56 Baht). The impact was most evident in the lower income group in Thailand, in which the smoking prevalence has declined from 42% in 1991 to only 20.7% in 2007. The household income which this group spent on cigarettes also reduced from 16.30% in 1991 to 8% in 2007.
According to the World Bank, the tobacco tax should be two-third or three- fourth (66-80%) of the retail price in order to have desirable impact in reducing tobacco use. The current tax burden on cigarette is now 69% of the retail price (or 85% of factory price plus 7% VA, 2% health tax, 1.5% Public television tax and 0.5% local tax). World Bank has recommended all governments to use Tobacco tax increase as one way to fight poverty. The obvious reason is that money saved from buying cigarettes, either by quitting or by reducing number of cigarettes, can then be spent on the improvement of healthier life-style as well as be used to support their families.
GoM counting tobacco votes over tobacco deaths
GoM counting tobacco votes over tobacco deaths
Tobacco use is the biggest cause of death, disease and disability the death clock of tobacco strikes every six seconds globally and the product kills nine lakh Indians every year. Since the first notification of the pictorial health warnings in July 2006, nearly 26,52,500 Indians have died from tobacco-related diseases.
Studies point that forewarning tobacco users of the ill-effects of tobacco use through pictorial health warnings is one of the most effective measures to contain tobacco use and the consequent death, disease and disability. Evidence from countries having pictorial health warnings have revealed that larger, comprehensive warnings on tobacco packages are more likely to be noticed and rated as effective by tobacco users and contribute to reduction in tobacco use, since more people are willing to quit tobacco after repeatedly seeing the warnings.
However, it seems politics has overtaken scientific evidence and abandoned public health commitments, to sound a retreat from the implementation of a tested measure against a known pandemic. The GoM, mostly comprising of the prominent candidates contesting in the general elections for the 15th Lok Sabha, in the absence of the former Health Minister and under pressure from the tobacco industry – there is no reason to believe otherwise – has disregarded all scientific evidence, undermined an international treaty (Framework Convention on Tobacco Control-FCTC) obligation and transgressed the Model Code of Conduct to derail an important public health measure.
The civil society alliance for tobacco control in India had already voiced this concern when the GoM sought to meet on April 8, though it seems the Election Commission did not grant the permission for the GoM to convene. But no one would have ever imagined that the GoM could go back and alter the minutes of its February 3 meeting to oblige the tobacco industry and to influence the voters in their tobacco dependent constituencies.
It is shocking to believe that the apprehensions expressed by the former Health Minister on Saturday (he has said, “The minutes of that (GoM February 3, 2009) meeting seems to be changed after I quit the government”) have come true. Such a hasty decision by the GoM and the consequent notification by the Ministry of Health is a serious concern for the Government of India and the Election Commission of India should take notice of this politically motivated move and initiate immediate corrective action to uphold the democratic ethos and practices of the country and save an important public health measure from being needlessly diluted.
For very short term political considerations, the GoM must not be allowed to drag the country back from its commitment by diluting rules, breaking promises and endangering India’s image before the international community. The global public health movement which previously applauded and honoured India for its pro-people actions to curtail tobacco consumption will now react with dismay as the Government dishonours its commitments. Besides, this is contrary to the standards set by a pro-public health Government which is responsible for the launch of the National Rural Health Mission and the National Tobacco Control Programme during its regime.
It is unfortunate that the GoM since its constitution, in early 2007, has already delayed the implementation of the pictorial warnings for two years and during this time diluted stronger warnings for milder ones, reduced size of the warnings from 50% of the principal display area to 40% besides exempting large packs from the purview of the packaging labeling rules. As if all this was not sufficient in itself to negate the efficacy of the pictorial warnings, the GoM on Sunday (May 3) cast a death blow to the warnings by making them appear only on one side of the pack - thereby scaling them down to 20% of the principal display area which is below the minimum standard set (30% of the principal display areas) by the FCTC - and only on the packages meant for retail sales.
Evidence from countries like Panama and Brazil with warnings restricted to a single side indicates that industry sabotages the initiative by advising retailers to stack the packs on the retail shelves in a manner that hides the warnings from public view. Further, even as Parties to the FCTC, including India are negotiating a protocol to curb illicit tobacco trade, health warnings on wholesale and export packages are a key marker to track and trace illegal tobacco products across the borders.
The apparent urgency of the GoM to revisit and alter the rules pertaining to the pictorial warnings at a time when the general elections are in progress, with the Model Code of Conduct in force, and above all when the implementation of the rules was to be considered by the Supreme Court of India only two days later (Tuesday, May 5), is uncalled for and amounts to a colourable exercise of power.
The tobacco control community strongly condemns this devious decision by the GoM to dilute and amend the pictorial warnings notification that was to come into force from, May 31, 2009, the World No Tobacco Day the theme of which, ironically, is tobacco pack warnings. We appeal to the Prime Minister of India to urgently intervene and prevent this repudiation of public interest. While politicians may count their success in terms of votes gained, statesmen should count their success in terms of lives saved.
- Citizen News Service (CNS)
Tobacco use is the biggest cause of death, disease and disability the death clock of tobacco strikes every six seconds globally and the product kills nine lakh Indians every year. Since the first notification of the pictorial health warnings in July 2006, nearly 26,52,500 Indians have died from tobacco-related diseases.
Studies point that forewarning tobacco users of the ill-effects of tobacco use through pictorial health warnings is one of the most effective measures to contain tobacco use and the consequent death, disease and disability. Evidence from countries having pictorial health warnings have revealed that larger, comprehensive warnings on tobacco packages are more likely to be noticed and rated as effective by tobacco users and contribute to reduction in tobacco use, since more people are willing to quit tobacco after repeatedly seeing the warnings.
However, it seems politics has overtaken scientific evidence and abandoned public health commitments, to sound a retreat from the implementation of a tested measure against a known pandemic. The GoM, mostly comprising of the prominent candidates contesting in the general elections for the 15th Lok Sabha, in the absence of the former Health Minister and under pressure from the tobacco industry – there is no reason to believe otherwise – has disregarded all scientific evidence, undermined an international treaty (Framework Convention on Tobacco Control-FCTC) obligation and transgressed the Model Code of Conduct to derail an important public health measure.
The civil society alliance for tobacco control in India had already voiced this concern when the GoM sought to meet on April 8, though it seems the Election Commission did not grant the permission for the GoM to convene. But no one would have ever imagined that the GoM could go back and alter the minutes of its February 3 meeting to oblige the tobacco industry and to influence the voters in their tobacco dependent constituencies.
It is shocking to believe that the apprehensions expressed by the former Health Minister on Saturday (he has said, “The minutes of that (GoM February 3, 2009) meeting seems to be changed after I quit the government”) have come true. Such a hasty decision by the GoM and the consequent notification by the Ministry of Health is a serious concern for the Government of India and the Election Commission of India should take notice of this politically motivated move and initiate immediate corrective action to uphold the democratic ethos and practices of the country and save an important public health measure from being needlessly diluted.
For very short term political considerations, the GoM must not be allowed to drag the country back from its commitment by diluting rules, breaking promises and endangering India’s image before the international community. The global public health movement which previously applauded and honoured India for its pro-people actions to curtail tobacco consumption will now react with dismay as the Government dishonours its commitments. Besides, this is contrary to the standards set by a pro-public health Government which is responsible for the launch of the National Rural Health Mission and the National Tobacco Control Programme during its regime.
It is unfortunate that the GoM since its constitution, in early 2007, has already delayed the implementation of the pictorial warnings for two years and during this time diluted stronger warnings for milder ones, reduced size of the warnings from 50% of the principal display area to 40% besides exempting large packs from the purview of the packaging labeling rules. As if all this was not sufficient in itself to negate the efficacy of the pictorial warnings, the GoM on Sunday (May 3) cast a death blow to the warnings by making them appear only on one side of the pack - thereby scaling them down to 20% of the principal display area which is below the minimum standard set (30% of the principal display areas) by the FCTC - and only on the packages meant for retail sales.
Evidence from countries like Panama and Brazil with warnings restricted to a single side indicates that industry sabotages the initiative by advising retailers to stack the packs on the retail shelves in a manner that hides the warnings from public view. Further, even as Parties to the FCTC, including India are negotiating a protocol to curb illicit tobacco trade, health warnings on wholesale and export packages are a key marker to track and trace illegal tobacco products across the borders.
The apparent urgency of the GoM to revisit and alter the rules pertaining to the pictorial warnings at a time when the general elections are in progress, with the Model Code of Conduct in force, and above all when the implementation of the rules was to be considered by the Supreme Court of India only two days later (Tuesday, May 5), is uncalled for and amounts to a colourable exercise of power.
The tobacco control community strongly condemns this devious decision by the GoM to dilute and amend the pictorial warnings notification that was to come into force from, May 31, 2009, the World No Tobacco Day the theme of which, ironically, is tobacco pack warnings. We appeal to the Prime Minister of India to urgently intervene and prevent this repudiation of public interest. While politicians may count their success in terms of votes gained, statesmen should count their success in terms of lives saved.
- Citizen News Service (CNS)
A month more for Pictorial warnings on tobacco products
A month more for Pictorial warnings on tobacco products
The long pending pictorial or graphic health warnings on all tobacco products in India shall finally be impelmented from 30 May 2009. This is in line with the Cigarette and other Tobacco Products Act and the global tobacco treaty which India has ratified (World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control).
Earlier this month in April 2009, the Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium had assured a bench headed by Justice BN Aggarwal in the Court after senior counsel Indira Jaisingh, appearing for NGO Health for Millions, alleged the Centre was dragging its feet on the issue.
Also earlier this month, the Group of Ministers (GoM) on tobacco warnings were supposed to meet on 8 April 2009 and further dilution or delay to pictorial health warnings on tobacco products was apprehended by many health activists. However the meeting didn't take place.
Also, a survey conducted in four Indian States by Healis Sekhsaria Institute for Public Health and Voluntary Healh Association of India (VHAI) reports 98% of public supporting the pack warnings and 99% supporting government action to strengthen health warnings requiring them to be large and including pictures of all tobacco products.
Pictorial warnings on tobacco products are intended to increase consumer knowledge of the deadly health effects of tobacco consumption, to encourage cessation and to discourage uptake. In India they also break the linguistic and cultural barrier, in addition to informing the illiterate population (a large proportion of this segment smokes bidis) about the harmful effects of tobacco use.
Before going to the 3rd Conference of Parties (COP3) to the FCTC, the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had revealed before the Central Information Commission that tobacco industry is putting "pressure" to relax the tobacco control policies (source: The Hindu, 14 November 2008). The Preamble of the global tobacco treaty, indicates that Parties “need to be alert to any efforts by the tobacco industry to undermine or subvert tobacco control efforts and the need to be informed of activities of the tobacco industry that have a negative impact on tobacco control efforts”. Further, Article 5.3 of the FCTC requires that “in setting and implementing their public health policies with respect to tobacco control, Parties should act to protect these policies from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry in accordance with the national law.”
Hope the authorities will not dilute or delay the implementation of this health policy any further, and stick to their commitment to enforce the pictorial health warnings on tobacco products by 30th May 2009.
- Bobby Ramakant
The long pending pictorial or graphic health warnings on all tobacco products in India shall finally be impelmented from 30 May 2009. This is in line with the Cigarette and other Tobacco Products Act and the global tobacco treaty which India has ratified (World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control).
Earlier this month in April 2009, the Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium had assured a bench headed by Justice BN Aggarwal in the Court after senior counsel Indira Jaisingh, appearing for NGO Health for Millions, alleged the Centre was dragging its feet on the issue.
Also earlier this month, the Group of Ministers (GoM) on tobacco warnings were supposed to meet on 8 April 2009 and further dilution or delay to pictorial health warnings on tobacco products was apprehended by many health activists. However the meeting didn't take place.
Also, a survey conducted in four Indian States by Healis Sekhsaria Institute for Public Health and Voluntary Healh Association of India (VHAI) reports 98% of public supporting the pack warnings and 99% supporting government action to strengthen health warnings requiring them to be large and including pictures of all tobacco products.
Pictorial warnings on tobacco products are intended to increase consumer knowledge of the deadly health effects of tobacco consumption, to encourage cessation and to discourage uptake. In India they also break the linguistic and cultural barrier, in addition to informing the illiterate population (a large proportion of this segment smokes bidis) about the harmful effects of tobacco use.
Before going to the 3rd Conference of Parties (COP3) to the FCTC, the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had revealed before the Central Information Commission that tobacco industry is putting "pressure" to relax the tobacco control policies (source: The Hindu, 14 November 2008). The Preamble of the global tobacco treaty, indicates that Parties “need to be alert to any efforts by the tobacco industry to undermine or subvert tobacco control efforts and the need to be informed of activities of the tobacco industry that have a negative impact on tobacco control efforts”. Further, Article 5.3 of the FCTC requires that “in setting and implementing their public health policies with respect to tobacco control, Parties should act to protect these policies from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry in accordance with the national law.”
Hope the authorities will not dilute or delay the implementation of this health policy any further, and stick to their commitment to enforce the pictorial health warnings on tobacco products by 30th May 2009.
- Bobby Ramakant
Engaging healthcare providers in tobacco control on 'Safe Saturday'
Engaging healthcare providers in tobacco control on 'Safe Saturday'
The healthcare providers, particularly the young nursing and medical students can potentially strengthen tobacco control in all healthcare facilities. This was the key thought expressed at the 'Safe Saturday' seminar held in Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University (CSMMU), organized by its Tobacco Cessation Centre. People tend to indulge more in risk-taking behaviour on a Saturday and health-seeking behaviour is minimal - that is why the Surgeons of CSMMU have taken an initiative to raise awareness and target different audiences for a 'safe saturday.'
The importance of integrating tobacco cessation with the existing healthcare services was emphasized by Professor (Dr) Rama Kant, Head of the Department of Surgery at CSMMU and a World Health Organization (WHO) Director General's Awardee (2005). He firmly believes that we can use the existing vast healthcare network of our country in tobacco control, simply by better management and utilization of the existing healthcare staff, at no extra cost. Involvement of health care workers is a major tool in curbing the tobacco epidemic.
Studies have shown that even a brief counseling by health professionals on dangers of smoking and the importance of quitting goes a long way in reducing tobacco consumption. This method is cost effective too and has been successfully tried in some parts of the state of Uttar Pradesh, informed Prof (Dr) Rama Kant. He felt that it was essential for all the primary and community health centres in the rural areas to join hands with the district hospitals/medical institutes in the urban areas to be part of this tobacco control activity.
The health professionals need to have adequate knowledge and a proper attitude in order to put the plan into practice. Proper training (by way of lectures and audio visual programmes) of the doctors, paramedics, nurses and all others involved in patient care is very essential. This should be coupled with a proper attitude. Lack of time is often cited as an excuse. But "even a cursory remark by the doctor like – 'do you take tobacco?' may have a tremendous cessation outcome" says Dr Vinod Jain, Associate Professor, Department of Surgery at CSMMU. A study has revealed that smoking cessation interventions during physician visits were associated with increased patient satisfaction. Patients are bound to feel that the doctor cares for them. Even one minute spent with the patient, results in an abstinence rate of 11% which increases to 17.5% if contact time is 3 minutes.
"Tobacco kills 5.4 million people around the world each year. Tobacco is a risk factor in six of the eight leading causes of death worldwide" said Alejandra Ellison Barney, Wellesley College, USA. The death toll is projected to rise to eight million a year by 2030, with 80 percent of those deaths occurring in developing countries, added Alejandra. If current trends are not reversed, tobacco will claim one billion lives this century, said she.
The healthcare professionals were also briefed on the coming World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) on 31 May 2009. This year the theme for WNTD 2009 is "Tobacco Health Warnings." Tobacco health warnings appear on packs of cigarettes and are among the strongest defences against the global epidemic of tobacco. WHO particularly approves of tobacco health warnings that contain both pictures and words because they are the most effective at convincing people to quit. Such pictorial warnings appear in more than a dozen countries.
The healthcare providers in CSMMU will campaign to encourage their government to adopt tobacco health warnings that meet all the criteria for maximal effectiveness, including that they cover more than half of the pack, appear on both the front and back of the pack and contain pictures. In India, the pictorial health warnings on all tobacco products are slated to come into effect from 30 May 2009.
- Bobby Ramakant
The healthcare providers, particularly the young nursing and medical students can potentially strengthen tobacco control in all healthcare facilities. This was the key thought expressed at the 'Safe Saturday' seminar held in Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University (CSMMU), organized by its Tobacco Cessation Centre. People tend to indulge more in risk-taking behaviour on a Saturday and health-seeking behaviour is minimal - that is why the Surgeons of CSMMU have taken an initiative to raise awareness and target different audiences for a 'safe saturday.'
The importance of integrating tobacco cessation with the existing healthcare services was emphasized by Professor (Dr) Rama Kant, Head of the Department of Surgery at CSMMU and a World Health Organization (WHO) Director General's Awardee (2005). He firmly believes that we can use the existing vast healthcare network of our country in tobacco control, simply by better management and utilization of the existing healthcare staff, at no extra cost. Involvement of health care workers is a major tool in curbing the tobacco epidemic.
Studies have shown that even a brief counseling by health professionals on dangers of smoking and the importance of quitting goes a long way in reducing tobacco consumption. This method is cost effective too and has been successfully tried in some parts of the state of Uttar Pradesh, informed Prof (Dr) Rama Kant. He felt that it was essential for all the primary and community health centres in the rural areas to join hands with the district hospitals/medical institutes in the urban areas to be part of this tobacco control activity.
The health professionals need to have adequate knowledge and a proper attitude in order to put the plan into practice. Proper training (by way of lectures and audio visual programmes) of the doctors, paramedics, nurses and all others involved in patient care is very essential. This should be coupled with a proper attitude. Lack of time is often cited as an excuse. But "even a cursory remark by the doctor like – 'do you take tobacco?' may have a tremendous cessation outcome" says Dr Vinod Jain, Associate Professor, Department of Surgery at CSMMU. A study has revealed that smoking cessation interventions during physician visits were associated with increased patient satisfaction. Patients are bound to feel that the doctor cares for them. Even one minute spent with the patient, results in an abstinence rate of 11% which increases to 17.5% if contact time is 3 minutes.
"Tobacco kills 5.4 million people around the world each year. Tobacco is a risk factor in six of the eight leading causes of death worldwide" said Alejandra Ellison Barney, Wellesley College, USA. The death toll is projected to rise to eight million a year by 2030, with 80 percent of those deaths occurring in developing countries, added Alejandra. If current trends are not reversed, tobacco will claim one billion lives this century, said she.
The healthcare professionals were also briefed on the coming World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) on 31 May 2009. This year the theme for WNTD 2009 is "Tobacco Health Warnings." Tobacco health warnings appear on packs of cigarettes and are among the strongest defences against the global epidemic of tobacco. WHO particularly approves of tobacco health warnings that contain both pictures and words because they are the most effective at convincing people to quit. Such pictorial warnings appear in more than a dozen countries.
The healthcare providers in CSMMU will campaign to encourage their government to adopt tobacco health warnings that meet all the criteria for maximal effectiveness, including that they cover more than half of the pack, appear on both the front and back of the pack and contain pictures. In India, the pictorial health warnings on all tobacco products are slated to come into effect from 30 May 2009.
- Bobby Ramakant
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