State Level Sensitization Meeting on Advancing Tobacco Control with Special emphasis on Capacity Building and Enforcement of COTPA, 2003

Introduction:
Tobacco use continues to be the leading global cause of death and threatening to become
an uncontrollable epidemic. As a result Tobacco related mortality is increasing day by day. In
this context Tobacco Control Programme aims to reduce diseases, disabilities and deaths related to tobacco use. In this perspective MANT is on the way towards establishment of an effective and efficient system of Tobacco control in West Bengal.

Planning:
As requested by Dr. K. K. Pati, Jt. DHS (NCD) MANT was entrusted to facilitate the sensitization programme on Advancing Tobacco Control with special emphasis on Capacity Building and Enforcement of COTPA, 2003 at Swasthya Bhavan on 14.03.2019

Focus:
The main focus of the Programme was to orient & sensitize the District Nodal Officers of NTCP and the staff members of DTCCs regarding the burden of Tobacco use and comprehensive enforcement of the implementation of Cigarette and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply & Distribution) Act. 2003 at the district level.

Venue: Auditorium, 2 nd Floor, Swasthya Bhavan
Programme Date: 14.03.2019
Schedule Time: 10.30 AM -4.00 PM
Duration: Five and half Hour.
Target Group: District Nodal Officers of NTCP and the staff members of DTCCs.
No. of stakeholders:

Resource persons:

• Md. Gulam Ansari, Mission Director, NHM
• Mr. K.K. Pati, Jt DHS, (NCD)
• Ms. Deepa Basu, ADHS, NCD II
• Mr. Nirmalya Mukherjee, Director, MANT

Content of the Programme:

• Tobacco Burden in West Bengal with special reference to health effects of tobacco
  use.
• An overview of COTPA (section 4,5,6,7)
• Tobacco Vendor Licensing
• GATS 1 & GATS 2- Comparative analysis
• Blue Line and Red Rose Campaign.
• FCTC Art 5.3 Protocol
• Special emphasis on enforcement of Sec 4, 6(a), 6(b) and Sec 7 of COTPA, 2003

Methodology:

• Presentation on Health Burden of Tobacco use and an Overview of COTPA 2003
• Interactive Session
• Sharing of Best Practices of Howrah, Darjeeling and other states of India.

Decision Taken:

• The meeting was chaired by Honourable MD. Gulam Ansari, IAS, Mission Director,
  NHM, Swasthya Bhavan. He highlighted the following points:
• Proper implementation of NTCP at District Level.
• To review NTCP once in a month at District Level.
• Formation of all committees at all levels.
• Enforcement

Follow Up:

It was requested by the Honourable MD Gulam Ansari, NHM, IAS, Mission Director, NHM, Swasthya Bhavan to all District Nodal Officers and DTCC members of all Districts to implement the Act with sincere commitment.