Cipla Health, in collaboration with the Goa Health Ministry, has recently launched Mission Tobacco Free Goa, an initiative to arrest tobacco related morbidities and mortalities in the state. The program is designed to systematically foster a reduction of tobacco consumption in any form and thereby eliminate health hazards arising from it. Apart from tackling health issues, the program is also aimed at reducing the economic burden resulting from tobacco related morbidities of approximately two million people in Goa.
A study undertaken by Cipla Health and the Directorate of Health Service (DHS) indicates that nearly 40 percent of adults in Goa are regular users of some form of tobacco-based product. Tobacco consumption in different forms starts at a young age either through peer-influence (12 percent) or peer-pressure (9 percent). There is a significant increase in the number of regular users of tobacco in Goa, which lends itself to the relevance of this initiative.
In its first phase, ‘Mission Tobacco Free Goa’ will be conducting targeted interventions in Bicholim taluka and the Colva beach area as pilots. Prior to the official launch, a significant preparatory exercise was undertaken by Cipla Health and DHS, which included the first ever situational assessment of tobacco incidence in Goa.Towards an agenda of complete cessation of tobacco consumption, health care workers, doctors, paramedics, enforcement agencies, taluka administrators and allied inter-sectoral workers have been sensitised and trained in tobacco cessation interventions, approach, counselling and age-specific support. Cipla Health and DHS have collaboratively designed Goa specific content to strengthen community outreach activities across the state, create counselling and tobacco de-addiction centers..
An entire ecosystem comprising health educators, extension educators, IEC officers, RBSK doctors, health officers, Ayush doctors, members of the Enforcement Squad with practical implementation of challaning under COTPA 2003, Anganwadi workers, PHC doctors and associated staff-members both in North and South Goa have been empowered and equipped with latest information and strategies to make the Mission successful in every possible way.
Commenting on this initiative, Shivam Puri, CEO of Cipla Health said, “At Cipla Health, we have been committed to improving the lives of patients by helping them quit smoking. Our partnership with the state of Goa for this public health initiative is in line with this endeavor.. This is a step forward in our vision towards making India smoke free.”
The landmark project was launched On October 22 by Vishwajit Pratapsingh Rane, Health Minister of Goa, along with Shivam Puri, CEO, Cipla Health, and Dr Jose D’Sa, Director of Health Services for Goa. During the launch of this public-private partnership, Shri Vishwajit Pratapsingh Rane shared the vision of later expanding the mission to cover the entire state and ultimately reducing the impact of tobacco related health-hazards by over 40 percent by using a combination of strategies aimed at curbing initiation of tobacco consumption by non-users, and a complete cessation of usage by current users.
