27 February-13 March 2009, Maharashtra

Issue 12

Tobacco Control in India Fortnightly News Summary

27 February-13 March 2009 use this as a treatment option in the 600 clinics that they plan to set up.” (Source: The Economic Times: 10 March 2009)

NATIONAL HEADLINES

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Health Minister’s anti-smoking crusade wins overwhelming support in metros In what may sound music to the ears of Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, his anti-smoking crusade has won overwhelming support in a survey carried out by Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI) and Healis Sekhsaria Institute for Public Health, in the four metros of the country. A near unanimous majority of Indians -- 98 per cent -- support prohibition of smoking in public places, including workplaces, restaurants and bars. (Source: Zee

STATE HEADLINES, Maharashtra

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World anti-tobacco conference India next week hosts a major world tobacco control conference, bringing experts from across the globe at a time of mounting concern about smoking in developing countries and among women. Organisers of the 14th World Conference on Tobacco or Health hope the five-day event in Mumbai from Sunday will help develop new strategies to tackle a public health problem that claims 5.4 million lives a year worldwide. (Source: AFP News, Mumbai,

News: 6 March 2009)

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India hosts major world anti-tobacco conference India next week hosts a major world tobacco control conference, bringing experts from across the globe at a time of mounting concern about smoking in developing countries and among women. Organisers of the 14th World Conference on Tobacco or Health hope the five-day event in Mumbai from Sunday will help develop new strategies to tackle a public health problem that claims 5.4 million lives a year worldwide. (Source: AFP News: 6 March 2009)

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Majority of Indians favour smoke-free workplaces: survey A near unanimous majority of Indians - 99 percent - favour a prohibition of smoking in public places, including workplaces, restaurants and bars, and demand stringent enforcement of rules to check smoking in offices, a survey has found. (Source: IANS News: 27 February 2009)

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More no-Tobacco Days demanded in India An Indian anti-smoking group at a conference here is lobbying to garner support for more No-Tobacco Days in the country. Every year, May 31 is observed as an international No-Tobacco Day but Aligarh-based Students' Movement Against Tobacco and Smoking (SMATS) says Indian students miss activities on the day as most schools in the country are closed for summer vaccations. (Source: The Hindu: 8 March 2009)

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Now, hookah bars in Ramadoss line of fire After targeting smokers and tipplers, Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss has the hookah bars on his radar and asked the Maharashtra government to close them down as they were violating the law.“Shops having hookah bars have to comply with the law of the land,” he said at the ‘Corporate Leaders meet on worksite wellnesss initiative’, a part of the World Congress on Tabacco or Health. (Source: Hindustan Times: 10 March 2009)

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Pfizer to set up 600 smoking cessation clinics in 2 years Pfizer India plans to launch 600 smoking cessation clinics across the country in the next two years in partnership with private sector hospitals and clinics. Pfizer India director (pharmaceutical marketing) Anjan Sen said: “We have already tied up with 150 clinics in 17 cities, including Max Healthcare, and are in talks with more hospitals for partnerships. We are also in talks with the government to

Maharashtra: 6 March 2009)

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Mission Tobacco free youth Next week marks an exciting time for health activists who have been fighting against tobacco. For the first time, the city will host the prestigious 14th World Conference on Tobacco or Health (WCTOH) from March 8 to 12. (Source: Maharashtra Times, Mumbai, Maharashtra: 6 March 2009)

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More no -Tobacco Days demanded in India An Indian anti-smoking group at a conference here is lobbying to garner support for more No-Tobacco Days in the country. Every year, May 31 is observed as an international No-Tobacco Day but Aligarh-based Students' Movement Against Tobacco and Smoking (SMATS) says Indian students miss activities on the day as most schools in the country are closed for summer vacation (Source: The Hindu, Mumbai, Maharashtra: 12 March 2009)

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Minister asks why hookah parlours still open, BMC vows to enforce ban After the BMC ban, 30 hookah hubs in the city had been shut down because of action from the civic body, but 26 still manage to function. Answering a query on hookah parlours openly violating the ban, Ramadoss said, "Hookah parlours in any form are illegal and should be banned. According to the law, hookah bars are banned, along with cigarettes. Why are they still open? We will help the BMC to shut down all the hookah parlours." (Source: The Indian Express, Mumbai, Maharashtra: 8 March 2009)

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Shimla to turn smoke-free soon Shimla is set to turn smoke-free soon and the entire state of Himachal Pradesh would follow suit in three years, officials said here Wednesday. "We are moving in right direction to turn Shimla smoke-free on the Chandigarh model in next few months to save passive smokers from ill effects of tobacco," said Gopal Chauhan, nodal officer of tobacco control programme in the state. (Source: The Hindu, Mumbai, Maharashtra: 7 February 2009)

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Dhoni & John endorse no smoking Cricketer MS Dhoni is also part the initiative, he says. “We were thinking of some sports personalities, like Sachin Tendulkar. A lot of them want to be part of it too... In fact, the entire cricket team wants to take part in the antitobacco campaign. Dhoni was very enthusiastic. He’s

Provided by the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use

Issue 12 appearing in one of the advertisements; it’ll come out soon. A lot of actors – including John Abraham – also will join in. It’s not on air yet, but they are starting to build this campaign.” (Source: The Times of India, Mumbai, Maharashtra: 27 February 2009)

Provided by the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use