WHO Country Office for India participated at the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use Partner Meeting, held in New York City from 12-13 November 2014. The meeting discussed plans for China, India and Viet Nam for 2015 and for sharing best practices, wins and challenges for global tobacco control.
Dr Nata Menabde, WHO Representative to India participated in the opening panel discussion on 'Using GATS Data to Support Policy Change'. The panel discussion was moderated by Dr Douglas Bettcher, WHO and the other panelists were Ms Xiao Lin, National Health & Family Commission, China and Dr Phan Thi Hai, Vice Chairperson, VINACOSH, Viet Nam.
In her address Dr Menabde said, “In India, The Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2009-10 was a catalyst at multiple levels to bring change from awareness to program design and policy reviews and action. It was the first dedicated survey done in India capturing all aspects of tobacco usage and provided valuable baseline data to drive tobacco control policy.”
“GATS also revealed high prevalence of tobacco use among women in their reproductive years thereby demanding action by the Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) program in the country. Further, GATS data forms the basis for a lot of ongoing research in the country e.g. the recent study on Economic Impact of Tobacco Use has also used this data,” she added.
Sharing the lessons learned from GATS, she elaborated “Data is a vital foundation. We didn't have a full view of the problem before GATS and now we have a baseline. Government and Ministry of Health ownership of the GATS is key to success. India contributed more than 70 percent funding for the survey and this kind of co-funding brings about sustainability and ownership.”