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Source – This post on Tobacco Free Youth Campaign 2.0 is based on the article “Union MoS for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav Launches Tobacco Free Youth Campaign 2.0 to Protect the Health and Well-Being of India’s Youth” published in PIB on 25th September 2024.
Why in News?
Recently, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare launched the Tobacco Free Youth Campaign 2.0 at Lady Hardinge Medical College in Delhi.
About Tobacco Free Youth Campaign 2.0
1. Launched by: Ministry of Health
2. Aim: The campaign aims to protect young people from the harmful effects of tobacco use and promote healthier lifestyles.
3. The campaign emphasizes a ‘whole of government’ approach, coordinating efforts between seven ministries, including the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs, and Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
4. Three key guidelines were introduced Health Workers Guide, SOPs for Tobacco-Free Villages and Guidelines for Law Enforcers for effective implementation of tobacco control laws.
5. Key Focus Areas of the Campaign:
Public Awareness: Increasing awareness about the dangers of tobacco, especially targeting youth and rural communities.
Educational Institutions: Improving compliance with the revised **Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI)** guidelines to keep schools and colleges tobacco-free.
Law Enforcement: Strengthening enforcement of tobacco control laws, particularly COTPA 2003 and Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA) 2019 to limit youth access to tobacco.
Tobacco-Free Villages: Promoting the creation of Tobacco-Free Villages where communities collaborate to eliminate tobacco use and foster healthier environments.
Social Media Outreach: Using digital platforms to spread strong messages about the harms of tobacco and the benefits of quitting, particularly targeting young audiences.
Health Impact: 13 lakh people die annually in India due to tobacco-related diseases. Tobacco has become a trend among the youth, but it poses significant health risks, including cancer.
6. Campaign Activities: Participants took the ‘Say No To Tobacco’ pledge to remain tobacco-free. The event included addresses by renowned celebrities and influencers such as Aparshakti Khurana, Manu Bhaker, Navdeep Singh, Ankit Baiyanpuria, Gaurav Chaudhary and Janhvi Singh.
An educational video by the World Health Organization (WHO) was launched to be used in schools, raising awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco.
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