Press Release Kerala yet again Comes Hard on Tobacco Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 21: To give further fillip to the

Kerala Governments proactive measures to control the use of tobacco products, the Regional Cancer Centre here has taken the leadership to bring together likeminded organisations for a campaign called Tobacco Free Kerala. The Honble Minister for Health Shri.Adoor Prakash today formally launched the campaign at a function at Kesari Journalists Hall here in the presence of Shri. Rajeev Sadanandan, Principal Secretary (Health), and Dr. Paul Sebastian, Director, Regional Cancer Centre (RCC). Tobacco Free Kerala is a campaign intended at controlling tobacco use in the State, especially among the youth, by a coalition of the same name. The members of the coalition are RCC, Malabar Cancer Centre, Voice of Tobacco Victims, Kerala Voluntary Health Services and MD-Niche, which is the media sensitisation arm of the campaign. Shri. Adoor Prakash is the Chairman of the coalition and Dr.Paul Sebastian is the Vice Chairman. This campaign comes in the wake of research reports and studies on the growing incidence of tobacco use in Kerala. The Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2009-10, conducted by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has revealed that 21.4 per cent of adults -- 35.5 per cent of males and 8.5 per cent of females -- use tobacco in any form. Going by these alarming figures, as many as 2.8 million people in the State face the threat of premature deaths on account of tobacco use. The majority of the victims are from the lower socio-economic strata, who are already burdened by communicable diseases. Exposure to smoking increases their risk of non-communicable diseases. This could emerge as a major cause of poverty in the State. Studies have also shown that tobacco is a risk factor for six of the eight leading causes of death in the world. These include ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, tuberculosis, lower respiratory tract infections and cancer in various parts of the body.

Saikripa, 289, PTP Nagar, Thiruvananthapuram 695 038, Kerala || T: 0471-2361026 || E: tobaccofreekerala@gmail.com ||

2 Figures available with RCC show that as many as 4,555 registered male patients were afflicted with cancer owing to tobacco use in 2005, and the numbers rose to 5,730 in 2009. Majority of patients have respiratory and oral cancers. Chewing tobacco is the major cause of oral cancer among males. In a pioneering move, the Honble Chief Minister Shri.Oommen Chandy slapped a ban on sale of tobacco products within a radius of 400 metres of educational institutions, showing his Governments seriousness to deal with the problem. Section 6 (b) of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003, -- COTPA, in short -- prohibits sale of tobacco products in an area within a radius of 100 yards of an educational institution. The State Government has recently instructed local bodies to ensure that the directions regarding ban on sale of tobacco products within a 400-metre radius are strictly recorded when issuing licenses to business outlets. For an effective implementation of these regulations, they have been asked to enlist the help of teachers, PTA and the police. Affirming his support to the cause of tobacco control, Shri.Chandy has written to the Honble Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh, requesting him to ban sale of tobacco products in the country through legislation. The State Government has also constituted a high-level committee, under the chairmanship of the Principal Secretary (Health) Shri.Rajeev Sadanandan, for dealing with issues related to tobacco usage. The Principal Secretary, in a recent Order, authorised police officers not below the rank of Sub-Inspectors to conduct raids and seizures under Section 12 of COTPA, 2003. Kerala is the first state in the country to invoke the Constitution to ban smoking in public places vide the landmark judgement of Justice K. Narayana Kurup of the Kerala High Court on 12 July, 1999. Again in 2002, Kerala brought out the The Kerala Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of NonSmokers Health Bill, 2002 to provide for prohibition of smoking in public places and in public service vehicles.

Saikripa, 289, PTP Nagar, Thiruvananthapuram 695 038, Kerala || T: 0471-2361026 || E: tobaccofreekerala@gmail.com ||