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Making Local Government Institution Smoke Free: a Practical Experience

Nasim Banu
Team Leader, Smoke Free Project, YPSA

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Bangladesh is one of the largest tobacco-consuming countries in the world. Among the population, 63% are aged 15 - 64 years. Bangladesh has one of the highest tobacco use prevalence in the world. 43.3% of adult in Bangladesh currently use tobacco (Smoking and smokeless). The most common and traditionally, Bangladeshi men smoke cigarettes, biri and hukka, and smoke less form such as zarda, sadapata (chew tobacco leaf) with betel quid (pan), gul etc. The GATS report' 2009 of WHO says that current tobacco user (smoking and smoke less) among all adults is 43.3% (41.3 million). Among them 58% are males and female is 28.7%. 23% of adult aged 15 years or above currently smoke tobacco in Bangladesh, (for males 44.7% and for females 1.5%). The estimated number of current adult tobacco smokers is 21.9 million (21.2 million males and 0.7 million females). Among male current tobacco user, 54.6% smoked tobacco only, 23% used smokeless tobacco and 22.4% used both. Among female current users, 2.7% smoked tobacco, 94.7% used smokeless tobacco products and 2.6% used both. Among youth (age 13-15), 2 % smoke cigarettes and 6% use tobacco products other than cigarettes. For enforcing the Tobacco control law the government machinery are playing the key responsibility. Local government institutions are also one of the important institutions which also can play a significant role in enforcing and implementing a smoke-free environment. Other stakeholders like civil society, NGOs, media, professionals groups, activists etc. are other key actors who can assist for taking the tobacco control measures. When all the key players and stakeholders will work together perfectly, then Tobacco control law and Rules will be enforced and implemented effectively, mass awareness will be created and behavior will be changed positively and finally, we could move towards smoke-free Bangladesh which is the dream of us. Bangladesh is the 8th country among 10 countries of the highest tobacco users. Considering the socio-economical condition, the uses of tobacco is very alarming. But the government and local government are taking this issue very seriously and working to control tobacco uses all over the country. When the tobacco control issue will integrate with local government agenda as major issue and the best practices of the initiatives of local government which has facilitated by YPSA will replicate across the country then Bangladesh will gain a huge success in tobacco control in future which ensures rights of human to breathe in a clean air.

Keywords: Tobacco, Tobacco production, Anti-tobacco, Society, Totacco smoke

Location: In Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Risk Management in Agriculture

Commodity: Heavy metal, Tobacco

Objectives:

To motivate the Local Government Institution Soke Free.

Methodology:

The amended law has expanded the list of smoke-free public places and transports and included non-government offices, indoor workplaces and restaurants in the definition of 'public place'. As per Tobacco control law and Rules of Bangladesh, smoking is completely banned in health-care facilities, educational facilities, library, inside of cinema hall, inside of display centre, inside of theatre hall, closed restaurant with one room, children park, sports space, and one room transport. Smoking is also banned in other indoor workplaces and public places. Through this provision, the law secured safe environment for a non-smoker and save them second-hand smoking in public places and transports. But the law allows for designated smoking areas. Though public health expert and tobacco control activist criticized this; but it is still present in amended tobacco control law. However, the tobacco control Rules require 10 categories of public places to be 100% smoke-free and specify hSocial Change Vol. 5, No. 1, 2015, pp. 48-71 Ó 2015 YPSA www.ypsa.org/social-change ISSN : 1997-938Xow smoking zone would be allowed in public places and public transports with very rigid conditions. The Rules described that smoking zone should be separated from no-smoking zones and the authority should ensure fresh air for non-smoker areas. The Rule also specified the message, design; size and how the vigilance notice display in smoke-free all public places and public transports and also the responsibility of the authority of public place and public transport. Penalties on the violations for smoking in public places/transports is taka 300 for smokers, penalty taka 500 for authority of public place and public transport for failing to perform responsibilities assigned by Rules and penalty doubled for repeated violations. Besides that penalty for authority of public place and public transport for failing to display vigilance notice as per Rules is taka 1000. It is mandatory to print pictorial health warnings about harms of tobacco on the upper half (50%) of the main display area(s) of the packets of all tobacco products. The law states the six rotating text messages for smoking product and 2 messages for smokeless products. The amended law bans use of any brand element such as 'light', 'low-tar', 'mild', 'extra' and 'ultra' on the packets of tobacco products to mislead the tobacco users about the effects of tobacco on health. The Rules describes the front, size and colour of warning. It is mandatory to print pictorial health warnings about harms of tobacco on the upper half (50%) of the main display area(s) of the packets of all tobacco products. The law states the six rotating text messages for smoking product and 2 messages for smokeless products. The amended law bans use of any brand element such as 'light', 'low-tar', 'mild', 'extra' and 'ultra' on the packets of tobacco products to mislead the tobacco users about the effects of tobacco on health. The Rules describes the front, size and colour of warning. The intervention was designed with the understanding that the enactment of legislation alone by the government is not an effective tool in Bangladesh. It needs to involve local government and promising practices for a smoke-free environment could be replicated in other local government in Chittagong Division and the country. By this initiative, the smoke-free guideline and tobacco control initiatives will be sustained and bring a good impact in future

Source of Information: Social Change, Vol. 5, No. 1, 2015, pp. 48-71, @ 2015 YPSA, ISSN : 1997-938X

Article Link (Online Journal): www.ypsa.org/social-change

Funding Source:

1.

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

For enforcing the Tobacco control law the government machinery are playing the key responsibility. Local government institutions are also one of the important institutions which also can play a significant role in enforcing and implementing the smoke-free environment. Other stakeholders like civil society, NGOs, media, professionals groups, activists etc. are other key actors who can assist for taking the tobacco control measures. When all the key players and stakeholders will work together perfectly, then Tobacco control law and Rules will be enforced and implemented effectively, mass awareness will be created and behavior will be changed positively and finally we could move towards smoke free Bangladesh which is the dream of us. Bangladesh is the 8th country among 10 countries of the highest tobacco users. Considering the socio-economical condition, the uses of tobacco is very alarming. But the government and local government are taking this issue very seriously and working to control tobacco uses all over the country. When the tobacco control issue will integrate with local government agenda as major issue and the best practices of the initiatives of local government which has facilitated by YPSA will replicate across the country then Bangladesh will gain a huge success in tobacco control in future which ensures rights of human to breathe in a clean air.

Knowledge Management: Journal