A sensitization programme on ill effects of vaping, was held on 29th September 2023 by the Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights in collaboration with Directorate of Education, supported by Rotary Club of Panaji and Goa Dental College and Hospital.
The programme was attended by over 180 heads of schools and nodal teachers from Bardez and Tiswadi taluka aimed to create awareness among the educational authorities, create a level of concern and priority to address the growing menace.
The programme was launched in the presence of Rtn. Nester Sequeira, President Rotary Club of Panaji, and Bossuet D’Silva, Superintendent of Police, Anti Narcotic Cell.
Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use is on its way to rise to epidemic levels among high school and middle school students in Goa. Schools serve as a key environment for prevention and intervention efforts to address e-cigarette use. Given the growing popularity of this device, there is need to roll out awareness campaigns about the harms of e-cigarettes and the law, i.e Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Act (PECA), said Peter F. Borges, Chairperson, Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights
Dr Kashyap Bandodkar, Junior Resident, GDCH conducted the session on Epidemic of the New World: Tobacco and Dr Akshatha Gadiyar, Assistant Professor, Dept of Public Health Dentistry, GDCH conducted session on E Cigarette – An Unresolved Public Health Concern and Tobacco Counselling & Cessation
The Goa SCPCR will strengthen the initiative with a strong social media component aimed at reaching teens in addition to comprehensive toolkits for parents, teachers and professionals who work with children on recognising vapes, and how to talk with their child about the importance of remaining tobacco and nicotine free.
The Goa SCPCR raises the concern about the weak implementation of PECA, leading to easy availability of e-cigarettes through online, retail, convenient stores, stationery shops, near educational institutions in Goa.
The Commission has appealed to report the sale of e-cigarettes on e-commerce site on the health ministry online portal – https://violation-reporting.in/ which facilitates reporting of violations under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Act (PECA).
