March 10, 2009: Activities held Post GYM-2009 (During 14th WCTOH)

Walkathon on Promoting Smoke Free Environment and Effective Implementation of FCTC at each country level

The youth participants joined hands to take a walk on March 10, 2009 to promote and support the smoke-free rules,. Participants walked from National Centre for the Performing Arts (the WCTOH venue) and concluded at CCI (cricket club of India). The youth participants united with the delegates of 14th WCTOH to seek their support and solidarity for smokefree environments and Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) at each country level. The ‘walkathon’ was organized on the eve of Holi, a festival of colours in India. The youth participants walked through the streets of Mumbai carrying the flag of their country and distributed handouts and wrist bands on the theme of promoting smoke-free environments. The youth delegates shouted slogans supporting smoke-free environments. The delegates from various countries carried their country flags to convey global support for smoke- free environments.

Ms. Livia T. Clandorf a youth delegate from United States of America highlighted that the FCTC represents a milestone for the promotion of public health and provides new dimensions for international health cooperation. Mr. Milton Nyamadzawo a Youth For Health (Y4H) representative from Zimbabwe stated that scientific evidence has firmly established that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke and there is indisputable evidence that implementing 100% smoke-free environments is the only effective way to protect people.

Corporate Leaders meet on Worksite Wellness Initiative: Promoting Smoke-free

Workplaces in India

In a unique symposium held during the 14th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health (14th WCTOH) in March 2009, corporate leaders came together to discuss worksite wellness initiatives. Twenty nine organisations were represented at the event and signed a Statement of Commitment, “The Smoke-Free Workplaces Initiative-Mumbai Declaration” for promoting smoke-free workplaces.

Global Youth Appeal for Pictorial Health Warnings

The youth representative from India on behalf of GYM-2009 submitted an appeal signed by 134 youth delegates of GYM-2009 to the Honorable Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India on March 9, 2009. The intent of organizing this campaign was to seek an international support of youth for early implementation of pictorial health warnings in India, which has been delayed for almost three years.

GYM – 2009 stall at 14th WCTOH

A stall was set up at 14th WCTOH which provided a space for interaction of GYM 2009 delegates with the main conference delegates. Various IEC materials on tobacco control developed by HRIDAY was displayed at the stall.