Local actions, local enforcement and local movements are driving progress against #tobacco
Channel: CNS
Date: 2019-09-27

Dr Gan Quan, Director of #Tobacco Control at International Union Against #Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), is in conversation with CNS Managing Editor Shobha Shukla, at the 4th Summit of APCAT (Asia Pacific Cities Alliance for Tobacco Control and #NCDs Prevention), which was held in #Bogor, #Indonesia.

He shares insights on why platforms like APCAT are important to bring local leaders on one platform to share local actions to control tobacco and prevent NCDs as well as to share how they are countering tobacco #industry interference in #PublicHealth policy. Some cities like Balanga City have been sued by the tobacco industry - which is important for other cities to look in and deliberate on how can they more effectively counter the tobacco industry. 

For countries like India and China, one of the major challenges is the influence of tobacco industry at national or federal level making it more difficult to pass any strong tobacco control policy. Whereas influence of industry is much less strong at state, city or local level. Implementation at local level is so key. In #India it is implementation of Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003, in #China it is smoke-free laws, and in Indonesia, it is smoke-free and ban on tobacco #advertising, promotion and sponsorship, it is really the local action, local enforcement, and local movements, which have been the highlight. In Dr Gan Quan's opinion this has been one of the major factors that have driven down the smoking rates in these three countries.

30% reduction of tobacco use by 2030 compared to 2015 is an ambitious target for governments as we are dealing with very addictive product, with very strong industry behind it. If we look back on progress we have made, it is not a very easy problem to solve. 

And a lot more! Watch this interview with Dr Gan Quan.

Thanks

CNS eLearning Programme Team
Email: webinar@citizen-news.org
Website: www.citizen-news.org
Twitter @CNS_Health

#APCAT2019 #Cities4Health #enoughNCDs #beatNCDs #endtobacco #notobacco #SDGs