India has the 2nd position in the world in terms of tobacco users. In a 2022 National Health Survey conducted in India, 48% of doctors say that they are not properly trained to help patients quit smoking. [1] Now, this is going to change with the implementation of a new initiative called "Nasha Mukti Indradhanush Abhiyan India."
This campaign is launched by the Asian Coalition for Health Empowerment (ACHE) and Doctors Against Addiction (DAAD), focusing on creating a tobacco-free future. This initiative is aimed at bringing together medical professionals and the public to promote a healthier, addiction-free India.
Over the past eight months, this campaign has gathered support from over 1000 doctors, public health experts, and medical students. Their collected signatures are submitted to health organizations and policymakers, including the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), to push for strict regulations to reduce tobacco use and other harmful addictions.
Dr. Narender Saini, former general secretary of the Indian Medical Association, said, "This initiative is a crucial movement towards a healthier India. It epitomizes a comprehensive approach to uprooting the hold of tobacco addiction and enforcing stringent rules to curb its use and other harmful substances.”
The Nasha Mukti Indradhanush Abhiyan India is not just a campaign, it's a movement towards a healthier future.
Dr. Narender Saini, Former General Secretary of the Indian Medical Association
Some of the key components of this campaign include:
Contributing to the de-addiction from tobacco, alcohol, drugs, and smartphones.
Aligning its principles with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal-3 (SDG-3) for the well-being of citizens.
Providing awareness to the public through debunking myths.
Implementing a consultative approach to make a successful intervention in smoking cessation.
Strengthening government policies to promote the importance of harm reduction and de-addiction to achieve SDG-3.
Dr. Pawan Gupta, Senior Consultant, Pulmonary Medicine, from BLX-MAX, a super specialty hospital in Delhi, emphasized the integrative approach of combining global best practices with local insight, providing a strong framework to tackle addiction.
The best part is the collaboration of healthcare professionals with the concerned public. This collective approach makes the process powerful and ensures a lasting impact on health and well-being.
Dr. Sunaina Soni, Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, Subharthi Medical College Meerut, said that she was overwhelmed by this response from medical professionals because the community has acknowledged the importance of this campaign. She adds that these signatures matter because this huge response will drive significant policy changes, making a tangible difference in the fight against addiction.
Through this campaign we're not just collecting signatures, we're inspiring hope and accountability. It is about empowering individuals and communities to believe in and strive for a tobacco-free future.
Dr. Sunaina Soni, Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, Subharthi Medical College, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh
Addressing addiction is multifaceted and complex. Healthcare providers are the first point of contact to get help for people with addiction. Thus, it is crucial to educate and equip them with the necessary knowledge and expertise to support these people. Also, the concerned people’s motivation is crucial for treatment success. Awareness of the dangers of addiction, guidance to seek help, resources, and a supportive environment can provide them with this motivation. This kind of collaboration can be expected from this initiative to free India of addiction.
References:
1. https://globalactiontoendsmoking.org/research/tobacco-around-the-world/india/ (Cited on 23/07/2024)
(Input from various media sources)
(Rehash/Dr. Shanjitha J Hussain/MSM)
