National Consultation on ‘Implementation of Tobacco Control Policies in India’

National Consultation on ‘Implementation of Tobacco Control Policies in India’

by | Aug 8, 2023 | Anusthana: Scaling Implementation of Tobacco Control Laws, Blog, Chronic Health Conditions

India has comprehensive tobacco control policies in place to address the growing problem of tobacco use, but their effectiveness differs among states due to diverse socio-economic, demographic, cultural, political, commercial, and geographical factors. Using a realist lens to understand what works, for whom and why in tobacco control, the Anushthana team at the Institute of Public Health Bengaluru (IPH) in association with the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) organized a two-day national consultation on tobacco control policies at The Chancery Pavilion, Bangalore from 6-7 July, 2023.

The consultation brought together state-level government officials, public health experts, researchers, academicians, civil society organizations, and tobacco control advocates to design strategies to curb tobacco use and promote public health. On the first day, Shri Dinesh Gundu Rao, Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Govt of Karnataka, graced the occasion by unveiling a short documentary and a policy brief developed by the research team at IPH Bengaluru. The consultation had three panel discussions: 1) Sustainability and scale up of current good practices related to tobacco control policy implementation, 2) Policy recommendations, newer initiatives & State level COTPA amendments, and 3) Strategies to counter persisting challenges in implementing COTPA, NTCP and newer legislations, including a session on the political economy of tobacco by Dr. Upendra Bhojani and a group activity on recommendations for the updation of the COTPA Law enforcers manual.

Keeping in line with a focus on policy guided by implementers’ wisdom, one of the key strengths of the consultation was the panel discussions consisting of state nodal officers working in tobacco control, civil society members, academia, and the medical community of various Indian states who shared the context-specific facilitators and barriers they faced. The event provided a platform for participants to voice their opinions, concerns, and recommendations. The knowledge and insights gained from this consultation will be instrumental in shaping evidence-based policies and programs to reduce tobacco consumption and its associated health risks. It is now imperative to translate the ideas and recommendations generated at the consultation into tangible actions, forging a path towards a tobacco-free future.

Next steps

In order to sustain the consultation’s momentum and progress, the upcoming activities include sharing the recommendations from the consultation with the Ministry of Health, Government of Karnataka to operationalize them in the state, sharing the recommendations on updating law enforcement manual at the national level, sharing the documentary for training purposes, and submitting the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (PECA) guidelines to the Union Ministry for further action.

Regional Report on Tobacco Industry Interference in South Asia

Regional Report on Tobacco Industry Interference in South Asia

by | Sep 13, 2022 | Blog, Chronic Health Conditions, Latest Updates

The tobacco epidemic continues today, claiming the lives of about 8 million people worldwide every year. Increasingly, interference by the tobacco industry has been known to hinder progress in tobacco control. Given the growing concerns with respect to tobacco industry interference (TII) in South Asia, the Institute of Public Health Bengaluru in collaboration with the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) launched a South Asia Public Health Fellowship in December last year. Through an 8-month fellowship period, seven fellows selected from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka curated four

country-specific case studies on how a transnational tobacco corporation like British American Tobacco (BAT) and its country affiliates interferes in tobacco control efforts in the region. Based on the country cases curated by the fellows, the project team prepared and published a regional report titled, “Interference by Big Tobacco and Affiliates in Tobacco Control in South Asia”. The regional report is available for download here.

CTRITH – Online webinar on the occasion of International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

CTRITH – Online webinar on the occasion of International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

by | Aug 17, 2022 | Blog, Events, Health Equity and Evaluation, Latest Updates

On 9th August 2022, Institute of Public Health Bengaluru under the initiative Centre for Training, Research, and Innovation in Tribal Health(CTRITH) and Jilla Budakattu Girijana Abhvriddhi Sangha, Chamarajanagar District had jointly organized an online webinar on the occasion of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples focusing on the theme of the year “The role of indigenous women in the preservation and transmission of traditional knowledge: Local context”.

Three women representatives/community leaders from 3 different local Adivasi communities participated as speakers and Dr. Prashanth N S moderated the session. Smt. Gouramma from Iruliga Community, Ramanagar District, Smt. Puttamma from Solega Community Chamarajanagar District and Ms.Susheela from Koraga community, Udupi District participated and shared the rich culture and practices among their society and shed light on the role of indigenous women in the preservation and transmission of traditional knowledge. The event was well attended by individuals and people working on tribal health, researchers, PhD students from various institutions.

ಇನ್ಸ್ಟಿಟ್ಯೂಟ್ ಆಫ್ ಪಬ್ಲಿಕ್ ಹೆಲ್ತ್ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಹಾಗೂ ಜಿಲ್ಲಾ ಬುಡಕಟ್ಟು ಗಿರಿಜನ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿ ಸಂಘ, ಚಾಮರಾಜನಗರ ಜಂಟಿಯಾಗಿ ವಿಶ್ವ ಆದಿವಾಸಿ ದಿನದ ಅಂಗವಾಗಿ ಆಗಸ್ಟ್ 9ರಂದು ಸೆಂಟರ್ ಫಾರ್ ಟ್ರೈನಿಂಗ್ ರಿಸರ್ಚ್ ಅಂಡ್ ಇನ್ನೋವೇಶನ್ ಇನ್ ಟ್ರೈಬಲ್ ಹೆಲ್ತ್(CTRITH) ಯೋಜನೆಯಡಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಆನ್ಲೈನ್ ವೆಬಿನಾರ್ ಒಂದನ್ನು ಆಯೋಜಿಸಲಾಗಿತ್ತು. “ಆದಿವಾಸಿ ಜನರ ಪಾರಂಪರಿಕ ಜ್ಞಾನದ ಸಂರಕ್ಷಣೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಪ್ರಸರಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಮುದಾಯದ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರ ಪಾತ್ರ” ಎಂಬ ವಿಶೇಷ ವಿಷಯದ ಕುರಿತು ಈ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮವನ್ನು ಆಯೋಜಿಸಲಾಗಿತ್ತು.

ಸ್ಥಳೀಯ ಆದಿವಾಸಿ ಸಮುದಾಯಗಳ ಮೂವರು ಮಹಿಳಾ ಪ್ರತಿನಿಧಿಗಳು/ಸಮುದಾಯ ಮುಖಂಡರು ಭಾಷಣಕಾರರಾಗಿ ಭಾಗವಹಿಸಿದ್ದರು ಮತ್ತು ಡಾ. ಪ್ರಶಾಂತ್ ಎನ್.ಎಸ್., ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮವನ್ನು ನಡೆಸಿಕೊಟ್ಟರು. ರಾಮನಗರ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯ ಇರುಳಿಗ ಸಮುದಾಯದ ಶ್ರೀಮತಿ. ಗೌರಮ್ಮ, ಚಾಮರಾಜನಗರ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯ ಸೋಲಿಗ ಸಮುದಾಯದ ಶ್ರೀಮತಿ. ಪುಟ್ಟಮ್ಮ ಹಾಗೂ ಉಡುಪಿ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯ ಕೊರಗ ಸಮುದಾಯದ ಕು. ಸುಶೀಲಾ ರವರು ಭಾಗವಹಿಸಿ ತಮ್ಮ ಸಮುದಾಯದಲ್ಲಿನ ಶ್ರೀಮಂತ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿ ಮತ್ತು ವಿಶಿಷ್ಟ ಆಚರಣೆಗಳನ್ನು ಹಂಚಿಕೊಂಡರಲ್ಲದೇ, ಸಾಂಪ್ರದಾಯಿಕ ಜ್ಞಾನದ ಸಂರಕ್ಷಣೆ ಮತ್ತು ಪ್ರಸರಣದಲ್ಲಿ ತಮ್ಮ ಪಾತ್ರಗಳೇನು ಎಂಬುದರ ಮೇಲೆ ಬೆಳಕು ಚೆಲ್ಲಿದರು. ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಆದಿವಾಸಿಗಳ ಆರೋಗ್ಯದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡುವ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಗಳು, ಸ್ಥಳೀಯ ಸಮುದಾಯದ ಮುಖಂಡರು, ತಜ್ಞರು, ಸಂಶೋಧಕರು, ವಿವಿಧ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಗಳ ಪಿಎಚ್‌ಡಿ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳು, ಮತ್ತಿತರರು ಭಾಗವಹಿಸಿದ್ದರು.

ಈ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮದ ರೆಕಾರ್ಡಿಂಗ್ ಇಲ್ಲಿದೆ:
Here is the recording of the webinar available to watch:

In a first for Karnataka, a community-based research center on tribal health launched in Chamarajanagar on 08 June 2022

In a first for Karnataka, a community-based research center on tribal health launched in Chamarajanagar on 08 June 2022

by | Jun 10, 2022 | Blog, Health Equity and Evaluation, Latest Updates

health-equity

The Institute of Public Health, Bengaluru along with J.S.S. Medical College, Mysore, and Indian Institute of Public Health, Bangalore launched a 5-year research initiative on tribal health supported by the DBT / Wellcome Trust India Alliance and in collaboration with the Chamarajanagar District Health & Family Welfare Department, Scheduled Tribes Welfare Department and the Zilla Budakattu Girijana Abhivriddhi Sangha, a collective of the Solega Adivasi community. The center includes research, innovation, and training on genetic diseases and hemoglobinopathies.

Charulata Somal, District Collector, who launched the Center for Training, Research and Innovation on Tribal Health (CTRITH), a first-of-its-kind in the state, noted that the Central and State Governments have organized many programs for the eradication of malnutrition, yet there is concern on malnutrition in tribal communities. She expressed hope that the initiative could bring about changes in tribal health. The new project will benefit the Adivasi communities of Chamarajanagar and the state and she assured the support of the district administration.

Speaking at the occasion, Dr. Prashanth N S, Assistant Director at the Institute of Public Health Bengaluru, noted that CTRITH would help understand the underlying causes of malnutrition and addiction disorders among Adivasi communities, and come up with appropriate guidelines for implementation and action. The program was attended by representatives from over 100 hamlets across 5 taluks and the taluka solega abhivruddhi sangha representatives.

The program was chaired by Dr. C Madegowda, Secretary of the Zilla Budakattu Girijana Abhivruddhi Sangha. He notes that research findings should not be limited to the advancement of the researcher but should reach the lowest level of the community and its benefits should be beneficial to the development of the community.

The Director of the Indian Institute of Public Health, Bangalore, Dr. Suresh Shapeti recalled his tenure as the District Health Officer of Chamarajangar and noted the need for cooperation across various government departments and partnerships with NGOs and civil society.  

Dr. Deepa Bhat spoke on behalf of J.S.S. Medical College, and explained the importance of community involvement, explaining for action on sickle-cell anemia and other hemoglobinopathies. 

Dr. Vishweshwariah, the District Health and Family Welfare Officer, Dr. G M Sanjeev, Director and Dean of the Chamarajanagar Institute of Medical Sciences (CIMS), Dr. Mahesh from CIMS, Manjula, District Tribal Welfare Officer, Dr. M Jadegowda, President of Vivekananda Girijana Kalyana Kendra addressed the gathering and wished the program success.  

Media Coverage
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Anushthana team conducts field observations in three Indian states

Anushthana team conducts field observations in three Indian states

by | Feb 8, 2022 | Anusthana: Scaling Implementation of Tobacco Control Laws, Blog, Chronic Health Conditions, Latest Updates, Uncategorized

Tobacco kills over one million adults in a high-burden country like India each year. Despite a comprehensive tobacco control law – the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, implementation remains varied across Indian states due to several contextual factors. The Anushthana team members (Dr. Pragati Hebbar, Vivek Dsouza, Praveen Rao S, and Kumaran P) of the Chronic Conditions and Public Policies cluster at IPH visited three Indian states i.e. West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, and Kerala during the months of November and December 2021. The objective of the field visit was to understand local contexts and on-ground implementation successes and challenges in the field of tobacco control. The team undertook field observations in three districts of each state focussing on the implementation of COTPA sections 4, 5, 6, and 7. Simultaneously, the team met relevant stakeholders to understand  their views on tobacco control policy implementation.

To aid the data collection, the team worked with Julee Jerang (IPH field consultant in Arunachal Pradesh) and MANT (a non-profit public health organisation in West Bengal). The field visit is part of a five-year research fellowship awarded to Dr. Pragati Hebbar and is funded by the DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance.