Panaji: Consumer Voice New Delhi in association with National Organisation for tobacco eradication (NOTE) India, and Self Help Group is of Goa organised sensitisation programme to mark the International Women’s Day on 9 March 2024 at Mapusa, Goa.
The programme was attended by more than 300 women from various health groups within the state of Goa, Consumer VOICE an NGO working in the field of public safety along with National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication which is working in the field of advocacy and strengthening tobacco control laws in the country.
Women members also participated in a slogan writing competition held on the sidelined of the program, on the theme of Strengthen Tobacco Control Law to Save Lives’ Empowering Women towards a Smoke-Free Healthy Future .
On the occasion women from different walks appealed to strengthen the tobacco control law to curb the tobacco menace. They also urged to remove the designated smoking areas to make India 100 percent smoke free and banning the point of sale to save the younger children and youth from the menace of tobacco. All the slogans will be sent to Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Sh.Narendra Modi Ji with letter representation by NOTE and Self Help Groups.
Women smokers are at a greater risk of developing cervical cancer, osteoporosis and conditions of reproductive system along with stroke. Tobacco use and exposure to Second hand Smoke are leading causes of deaths in women.
Around 15 percent of women exposed to passive smoking in our country according to GATS report. To tackle this, we need stringent policies for tobacco control and can save millions of
lives. Women are backbone of family so, let us give healthy life to women. Nearly 50% of all cancers in India are due to tobacco. Smoking worsens lung function and reduces immunity. All designated smoking areas in hotels and restaurants and even airports should be removed to ensure a 100% smoke free environment. Global Adult Tobacco Survey released by Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare revealed that 4% of women and 9.7% of all adults either smoke tobacco and/ or use smokeless tobacco in the state of Goa.
Apart around 40 percent of women exposed to second hand smoke at home in our country. If
talk about Goa around 12 percent of women expose to second hand smoke at any public
place in state according to data. To strengthen the tobacco control law there is urgent need
to initiate the amendment process of tobacco control law as this is an important step towards
improving public health says Dr.Shekhar Salkar, President NOTE,Goa.
Tobacco in any form is dangerous and deadly. It is alarming that children and teens are lured towards the tobacco addiction. Tobacco use can cause cancer, cancer of mouth, esophagus, lung cancer etc. Women smokers have risk of stroke, haemorrhage and other problems related to reproductive system. An strong action must be taken to protect women from the harms of tobacco use and exposure to second hand smoke. Tobacco control policies, such as smoke-free environments by
A staggering 42.4% of men and 14.2% of women currently use tobacco as per GATS-2. It imposes enormous health and economic costs on the country.
The program was presided by Dr. Nutan Bicholkar, Chairperson of Mapusa Municipal Council, Mrs Manisha Lanjekar, Dr. Devdutt M Sail, Dr Gaurang Shirodkar and Mrs Lallan Karapurkar were the resource person for the workshop.
