BENGALURU:
Bengaluru is among five global cities that have been recognised for achievements in preventing non communicable diseases (NCDs) and injuries, with the Indian tech city’s efforts in tobacco control winning a USD 150,000 award by a leading global initiative supported by the WHO.
Bengaluru was honoured on Wednesday with the 2023 Partnership for Healthy Cities Award, along with Montevideo in Uruguay; Mexico City, Mexico; Vancouver, Canada and Athens, Greece, at the inaugural Partnership for Healthy Cities Summit held in London, a statement by the World Health Organisation (WHO) said.
The cities were recognised for positively impacting the health of their population and making sustainable and lasting strides toward NCD and injury prevention that can be replicated in other jurisdictions.
According to the statement, the five winning cities each received USD 150,000 to further their work with the partnership.
Also Read: Bengaluru honoured with USD 150,000 global award for tobacco control efforts
The Karnataka capital was awarded for its ”efforts in tobacco control, specifically, reducing smoking in public places and improving compliance with existing mandates on public smoking bans,” the statement said.
On receiving the award at London, Special Commissioner (Health), Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, the city civic body, Dr Thrilok Chandra K V, praised Bengaluru’s commitment to enforce smoke-free laws and protect non-smokers from the harms of ”second-hand smoke”, according to a BBMP statement.
”This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our BBMP health team, civil society organisations and residents who have all worked together to create a healthier city for everyone,” he said.
Dr Thriveni B S, Project Director, who is leading the ‘Partnership for Healthy Cities’ work under ‘Vital Strategies’, said she was glad that the partnership started in collaboration with BBMP in 2017 has been very successful.
”We have witnessed a commitment and support from the BBMP to make Bengaluru a Smoke-free city by strictly implementing tobacco control laws. This award motivates us to do more and work towards bringing in new tobacco control rules and regulations to prevent youth from getting addicted to tobacco,” she said.
Dr Vishal Rao, who is Member of NCD Task Force, Government of Karnataka, Amit Karnik from ”Smoke Free Bengaluru” initiative and Mallikarjuna also represented Bengaluru city along with Thrilok Chandra, BBMP Chief Health Officer Bala Sundar A S and Thriveni at the award presentation ceremony.
”Smoke free Bengaluru is an important landmark project taken up by BBMP to give the garden city cleaner air by preventing violation of tobacco smoke free laws,” Vishal Rao told PTI.
Karnataka’s implementation of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) has been well recognised by the Government of India. ”Today, this recognition from WHO & UN reiterates the importance of working in a cohesive manner of Govt and Civil society to protect the health of citizens,” Rao said.
Most hotels, bars, pubs and restaurants / cafes violate smoke free rules, and raising awareness and strengthening enforcement are equally essential to continue achieving smoke free Bengaluru, he added.
Founded in 2017, the Partnership for Healthy Cities is a global network comprising 70 cities working together to prevent NCDs and injuries, it was noted.
Supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, in partnership with the WHO and Vital Strategies, the initiative enables cities worldwide to deliver a high-impact policy or programmatic intervention to reduce NCDs and injuries in their communities. PTI
