event details - MPOWER – Preparing the Next Generation of Tobacco Control Advocates: MONITORING

In 2008, WHO introduced the MPOWER package to assist in the country-level implementation of six effective measures to reduce demand for tobacco products. The MPOWER package consists of a set of six key and most effective strategies for fighting the global tobacco epidemic: M is for Monitoring tobacco use, P is for Protection from tobacco smoke, O is Offering help to quit tobacco use, W is Warning about the dangers of tobacco, E is Enforcing bans on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship, and finally R is for Raising taxes on tobacco.

Each measure reflects at least one provision of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. This is the first in the series of webinars on MPOWER strategies by SDPI and aims to educate the youth and the next generation of tobacco control advocates.

The letter M in MPOWER denotes the "Monitor" measure. Reliable prevalence data provide the information needed to assess the impacts of tobacco control actions adopted by a country. Surveys that include data on tobacco use should be repeated at regular intervals using comparable questions, sampling, data analysis, and reporting techniques. Comparable data across different survey periods are required to accurately monitor and evaluate the impact of tobacco control interventions over time. This indicator measures the implementation status of the M measure.

Strong monitoring keeps countries on track to combat the tobacco epidemic. Moreover, monitoring activities need sufficient political support and resources, and the data collected must be used to take appropriate action. This webinar will focus on the Monitoring aspect of MPOWER strategies and will deliberate on the following aspects:

1. What are the Characteristics of effective monitoring systems?

2. What are the mechanics of monitoring tobacco use?

3. What are the types of surveys useful for monitoring tobacco use?

4. Regional Case Studies on data-driven actions to advance MPOWER progress.

Opening Remarks:

Dr Vaqar Ahmed, Joint Executive Director, SDPI.

Panelists:

• Mr Dr Minhaj us Siraj, Former Joint Executive Director, PIMS/FMTI

• Mr Khurram Hashmi, Technical Head, The Union for Tuberculosis

• Mr Muhammad Ajmal Shah, Project Director, KP Tobacco Control Cell

• Ms Sana Ahmad, Program Coordinator, Blue Veins, Peshawar

• Dr Waseem Iftikhar Janjua, Advisor Tobacco Control Project, SDPI

Moderator: Mr Wasif Naqvi, Senior Research Associate, SDPI