GOACAN highlights tobacco impact on health

MARGAO, MAY 31
On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day on Monday, consumer forum volunteers under the banner of GOACAN held an Awareness Action in Margao to highlight the health impacts on consumption of tobacco products and the tobacco control laws prevalent in Goa.
Carrying colourful flags and placards, the volunteers distributed information handouts to consumers informing them that smoking in public places and work places is prohibited under the Control of Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) and Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places Rules 2008.
GOACAN Coordinator Roland Martins said many consumers were surprised to know that these laws protect them from passive smoking and they can register their complaints with the Directorate of Health Services on Tel. Nos 2225540 and 2225561, to the Voluntary Health Association of Goa on 2221012 and to Goa Police on 100.
He said volunteers explained to consumers that if the prohibition of sale of tobacco products outside schools, HSS and colleges is to be successful, then the vigilance of the parents, teachers and the public at large is crucial. Consumers were further informed that as per the prevalent laws there is a total ban on sale of gutkha in Goa.
Consumers were also informed that this year’s World Health Organisation’s (WHO) campaign theme on Gender and Tobacco focuses on the harmful effects of tobacco marketing towards women and girls. It also highlights the need for governments to ban all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship and to eliminate tobacco smoke in all public and work places as provided in the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
 A pictorial poster exhibition depicting the health impacts of tobacco products was also displayed at the awareness action. The consumers were further informed that tobacco products like cigarettes, beedis and gutkha are responsible for over 8,00,000 deaths in the country due to tobacco related diseases like lung and mouth cancer.
Meanwhile GOACAN has decided to submit detailed memorandums to the District Collector, Deputy Collector, Deputy Director- Panchayats, Taluka Mamlatdar, Block Development Officers, chairpersons & chief officers of municipal councils and sarpanchas & secretaries of village panchayats.
The memorandum will highlight the need to implement the Tobacco Control Laws in letter and spirit with specific focus on the installation of proper signages and notifying the designated officers for issuing of challans and collection of fines.