Women Need to Be Empowered Against Tobacco Outrage focused by multi-sectoral, consultative, community level interventions apart from strict legislative provisions already in place- Preeti Sudan

Women Need to Be Empowered Against Tobacco Outrage focused by multi-sectoral, consultative, community level interventions apart from strict legislative provisions already in place- Preeti Sudan
Health Experts, Academicians and Civil Society Organisations dwell on the issue of “EMPOWERING WOMEN AGAINST TOBACCO OUTRAGE”

Chandigarh, 8 March
Ms Shruti Agrawal, Co-Founder ICanCare, welcoming the special guests, experts and participants, informed that the consultation was organized as a part of the celebration of International Women’s Day, to highlight the plight of women and the need to protect them against tobacco. SIPHER-Strategic Institute for Public Health Education and Research, ICanCare -Innovative Cancer Care and Rehabilitation Pvt. Ltd and Innerwheel District 310 organized a webinar on Empowering Women against the Tobacco Outrage to deliberate on the strategies of empowering women for tobacco control in the community as Tobacco Marshals.
In her inaugural address Ms.Preeti Sudan, Former Secretary Health, Govt. of India, known for her proactive role on public health issues, said that, Women Need to Be Empowered Against Tobacco Outrage focused by multi-sectoral, consultative, community level interventions apart from strict legislative provisions already in place. She also emphasized the need of “tobacco marshals and quit mitras”, who can volunteer to sensitize the community and at the same time encourage the addicts to quit by supporting them in their journey.
Dr Mira Aghi, Behavioural Scientist and a Communication Expert of an international repute was the Chairperson of the Panel Discussion and was of the view that,” for tobacco control to be effective with women, we have to have the commitment to study fully, why in the first place they take up the use of tobacco and continue its use and then to formulate policies of quitting the use of the weed in every form.
Dr Rakesh Gupta, President, Strategic Institute of Public Health Education and Research (SIPHER) presented the introductory remarks on the issue informing that, Tobacco use is the single leading preventable cause of death globally. It is estimated to cause more than 1.3 million deaths in India every year. About 200 million of the world’s one billion smokers are women. The tobacco industry aggressively targets women in order to increase its consumer base and to replace those consumers who quit or who die prematurely from cancer, heart attack, stroke, emphysema, or another tobacco-related disease.
Dr Pawan Gupta, an Oncosurgeon and Founder of ICanCare, explained that the marketing strategies of the tobacco industry lure consumers with misleading categories, such as “light” or “low tar”. More women than men smoke “light” cigarettes (63% versus 46%), often in the mistaken belief that “light” means “safer”. In fact, “light” smokers often engage in compensatory smoking, inhaling more deeply and more frequently to absorb the desired amount of nicotine. Understanding and controlling the tobacco epidemic among women is an important part of any tobacco control strategy. Therefore, it is necessary to discuss and deliberate on “EMPOWERING WOMEN AGAINST TOBACCO OUTRAGE”
Dr. Amik Garg, Director KIET Group of Institutions emphasized the need for establishing tobacco free educational institutes and at the same time synergize for better healthcare delivery
Mrs. Sonal Bhatia, District Chairman INW 310 talked about her Project “Target 1000” whereby 1000 women from their clubs are being empowered as Tobacco Marshals for leading tobacco control in their society. This attracted marvellous appreciations by all the guests and participants who came forward to join her in her mission.
Dr Reena R Kumar, Academic,Director, ICanCare moderated the Panel Discussion and deliberated with the panellist on empowering women for leading tobacco control. Opinions from the audience on the subject matter through numerous polls were also obtained. Dr. Reena also discussed the role of women in pioneering initiatives for effective tobacco control.
Dr. Jagdish Kaur, Advisor WHO SEARO Tobacco Free Initiative talked about the new WHO Quit app to help the addicts quit the habit with the new evidence-based regime of cessation. She added that Women face different issues with tobacco. They need more easy access to cessation services, need protection from second hand smoke and economically viable livelihood options if involved in tobacco growing and tobacco products manufacturing”. Advocate Purnima R. Panda, Member of the Bench of Magistrates in Child Welfare Committee Delhi, highlighted that tobacco is a human rights issue as it affects your health.She enlightened that any kind of domestic violence resulting from tobacco abuse is a punishable offence. Mrs. Renu Saigal, President Sahayata Charitable Welfare Society described how Sahayata has been extensively sensitizing children in the schools of Chandigarh to refrain from tobacco and save themselves from cancer and other non-communicable diseases. As per the view of Dr Shalini Singh, Director, ICMR-NICPR & WHO FCTC Global Knowledge Hub on Smokeless Tobacco,” there is a need to integrate opportunistic tobacco screening and tobacco cessation counselling at all levels of health care system including in Reproductive, maternal and adolescent health services. She also shared her experiences with the research studies on smokeless tobacco use and the findings have been astonishing that young girls may succumb to chewing tobacco at a young age. Dr Smita Deshpande, Prof. and Head Psychiatrist, St. John’s Hospital discussed the help the women can provide to their husbands for quitting and how mental health is impacted from second hand and third hand abuse. Prof Suneela Garg, Director Community Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi discussed extensively on the Public Health strategies of empowering women for better tobacco control in their respective communities. She added that, Girls and boys start using tobacco for different reasons, and tobacco use harms women and men differently. Many more girls than boys smoke in the false belief that it is a good way to control weight. Mrs Pravesh Singh, India’s 1st Tobacco Marshal, President – Ek Prayas , KIET Group of Institutions. shared her experience as a Tobacco Marshal and how her empowerment had helped her to support her husband in quitting tobacco and at the same time establishing her institute as tobacco-free.
257+ participants joined the session live on multiple social media platforms and pledged to lead tobacco control in society. Video of Little Marshal Aadya Jain pledging to SAVE the Youth from tobacco was played that inspired the women at the gathering to come forward and shoulder the responsibility of tobacco control. Videos of people pledging to be Tobacco Marshal were also played. This was prepared under the leadership of Dr Geetika Sharma, Convenor CDH IDA East Delhi. Videos of students from the KIET Group of Institutions depicting their hard work towards tobacco sensitization were also played. The details of empowering oneself as a Tobacco Marshals for leading tobacco control in the society was also discussed. Dr Manisha Pandey, Director Women Health Initiative ICanCaRe gave the vote of thanks. The event ended with sheer enthusiasm and one voice from the participants to establish a healthier, greener and smoke free community, empowering women against the tobacco outrage.