New Delhi , The Resource Center for Tobacco Control (RCTC) India was launched at the 12th Asia Pacific Conference on Tobacco or Health (APACT) held in Bali, Indonesia on 14th September 2018. The tobacco control advocates and leaders from various organizations across the country attended the event. The major collaborating partner is the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India along with the other Non-Governmental Organizations.
Dr. Sonu Goel, Additional Professor, PGIMER, Chandigarh leading the RCTC said that the main objective of this Resource Centre for Tobacco Control (RCTC) is to have a common platform or one-point reference system for all tobacco control information/updates/ activities and technical resource materials across India. This is a virtual centre which will provide all the relevant information to issue of tobacco at one place. Besides, it will regularly update the evidences and facts which will solve the current issues of information-gap and facilitate program managers in seeking correct, reliable, updated and contextual data and statistics in tobacco control.
Dr Rana J Singh, Regional Advisor from The Union via a conference call on the occasion said this RCTC will be effectively utilized by program implementers, academicians, researchers and other stakeholders for capacity building. He said that this will provide momentum to existing coordination mechanisms and collaborations in tobacco control for harmonized initiatives and thus strengthening partnerships in the area. This will be useful for Southeast Asian Countries as well as global researchers to understand the ongoing activities in India.”Ashima Sarin, Director Voice of Tobacco Victims (VoTV) from Sambandh Health Foundation (SHF) said, “Framing a Resource Centre was a much needed step in the country at this stage. This will be helpful for policymakers, policy implementers and various Government Health Departments across various states of India working.
Participants of the conference from Asia Pacific region enthusiastically supported the initiative of establishment of resource centre in India. During the event, a manual for tobacco control amongst Non-communicable Disease patients was also released.
13.5 lac people die prematurely due to tobacco related diseases in India. As per Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2017, India has 26.7 crores tobacco users.
Post a Comment