Young India Network for Good Health

Prof. T K Thomas 13 Jun, 2019 Healthy India Alliance working for prevention and control of Non Communicable Diseases [NCDs] urges the Government to take expeditious action against alcohol harm in India. The Alliance, comprising over a dozen Indian non-profit organizations working in the field of cancer prevention, palliative care, tobacco and alcohol advocacy etc. and member organizations of IOGT International want the government to focus on multi- sectoral alcohol policy action in India to tackle the heavy burden of alcohol harm. The Alliance has highlighted a recent study by New Lancet, world’s leading independent general medical journal. According to the study, there is a 38% increase in alcohol use among Indians (from 2010 to 2017) – a deviation from the National Communicable Diseases [NCDs] target of a 10% reduction in alcohol consumption by 2025. The Healthy India Alliance flagged key alcohol control measures that need urgent attention of the Governm...

Expressing solidarity with people of Vietnam and supporting comprehensive alcohol policy solutions in open letter to Prime Minister, Health Minister, and National Assembly Chair To: H.E. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam H.E. Vu Duc Dam, Deputy Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam H.E. Nguyen Thi Kim Tien, Minister of Health H.E. Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Chairwoman of the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam H.E. Nguyen Thuy Anh, Chairwoman, National Assembly Social Affairs Committee Your Excellency, It is our distinct honor and privilege to address You by way of this letter. We are the assembled delegates of the 69th Session of the IOGT International World Congress. Founded in 1851, IOGT International is today the largest global network for evidence- based policy solutions and community-based interventions to prevent and reduce alcohol harm. We, the delegates from more than 40 countries, are wri...

Prof.T K Thomas 03 Jul, 2018 at 17:07 PM Last Tuesday [26th June] was International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. One casually tuned into the lead story at 7 in the morning on Asianet News to find out that drug addiction in Kerala had gone up five times after a majority of bars were closed down in 2016 by the Congress led UDF government. During this period alcohol consumption had declined, the story mentioned. This turned out to be one’s thought for the day. Is alcohol a drug like cannabis, opiates etc? One has studied the problem of drugs and addiction for almost four decades and has learned that alcohol is indeed a drug. It comes in the category depressants [Drugs incidentally are categorized in to seven types on the basis of their effect on those who use them- for example while a depressant slows down, a stimulant speeds up or a hallucinogen disrupts communication within one’s brain and so on.] Alcohol unlike other drugs is licit or legal ...

Vindhya Vatsyayan came to the 2nd Global NCD Alliance Forum as a youth delegate, eager to learn how to better represent the voices of those who suffer NCDs in silence. Today she is using the knowledge and inspiration gained there to do just that. Here she shares some of her key reflections. My father always keeps an eye on what is happening around the world and where he can send his daughter to learn new things, and that's exactly how I ended up attending the Youth Pre-Forum Workshop at the 2 nd  Global NCD Alliance Forum in Sharjah, UAE. I filled in the application form very meticulously; but honestly, it was quite simple because all I had to do was share my story, experiences and the change I want to see in the world. "People will forget what you did but will remember how you made them feel." - a person living with NCDs It was not just focused on my qualifications, but more on why I feel so strongly for a cause and how I plan to bring change. For the first tim...

Our incredible Nada India peer educator Heena sharing her experience of bringing the change in her community. She was a part of the campaign which raised awareness on #NCDs and its risk factors in slum communities in Delhi. She started with her own family and eventually was able to brought in changes throughout the community with everyone taking active part. She has evolved as a person and is now a lot more confident about what she wants to do in life.  Yuva Bharat, (Nada India youth leader has been part of the leadership) a youth led initiative organized a three day national meet to set a road map for youth advocates in India to bring in change with a focus on alcohol as one of the major risk factors for NCDs. Nada India Youth Health advocates from different communities participated in prioritizing the NCD agenda   and shared their case study featured in NCD Atlas 2017@NCDAlliance publication   as follow up of  #NCDAF2017.  B...

The countdown is on. We're gearing up for the Global Drink Revolution Day, October 3rd. That is 8 months from now. We will fill the time with epic content and inspiring stuff because let's be real, we have no time to waste on our mission to shatter a harmful alcohol norm and to celebrate the alcohol-free lifestyle. Cheers Up Gear up! Fact number 1. There is stigma around alcohol problems. Fact number 2. The stigma is very dangerous. Fact number 3. The stigma is maintained by many nice people without any bad intentions but lacking knowledge about alcohol problems. Fact number 4. The stigma is fuelled by an industry that would crash on the stock market if fact number 1 would be false. Let us take it step by step The stigma around alcohol means that people with alcohol problems are often categorised as losers lacking morality or having a flawed character. Another part of the stigma is the belief that the people with alcohol problems are o...

Leading public health experts warn that youth around the world are exposed to extensive alcohol marketing, and that current controls on that marketing appear ineffective in blocking the association between youth exposure and subsequent drinking.  Alcohol is the leading cause of death and disability for young males aged 15-24 in nearly every region of the world, and young females of the same age in the wealthy countries and the Americas. The experts call for governments around the world to renew their efforts to address the problem by strengthening the rules governing alcohol marketing with more effective independent statutory regulations. Their call coincides with the publication of a series of reports in a supplement to the scientific journal Addiction that presents the latest evidence on alcohol marketing and its impact on children. Key findings from the collection of peer-reviewed manuscripts include: ·Exposure to alcohol marketing is associated with youth alcohol consumptio...

“New Alliance To Prevent NCDs In India,”  Suneel’s blog is among 6 Most Read IOGT Global Voices Blogs In 2016 The Global Voices Blog Portal on www.iogt.org has generated 65 blog posts in 2016. The blog portal has grown in readership and unique visitors numbers as the authors continue to cover a diverse range of topics and geographic regions. This is the list of the 6 most read blog posts: “The Curious Case Of All The Guidelines,” by Maik Dünnbier Read Maik’s blog here. “If You Could Save The Planet, Would You?” by Kristina Sperkova Read Kristina’s blog here. “Chang Beer Targeting Kids,” by Teera Watcharapranee Read Teera’s blog here. “New Alliance To Prevent NCDs In India,” by Suneel Vatsyayan Read Suneel’s blog here. “Unholy Alliance – How African-American Stars And Big Alcohol Exploit Black People,” by Brenda Mkwesha Read Brenda’s blog here. “Is Alcohol A Source Of Pleasure,” by Viktor Watz Read Viktor’s blog here.

Alcohol Promotion by Celebrities Is Health Hazard! Increasingly celebrities in India seek to make loads of money in a short period of time, and choose collaboration with unethical companies, promoting harmful products. And then there are powerful role models who choose another path… BY   Suneel Vatsyayan The endorsement by celebrities of products can have serious adverse effects on health – for example in the case of MAGGI and school children. Maggi product “2 minute noodle” (that is popular with school kids) was  found to be containing Mono Sodium Glutamate (MSG)  and lead higher than the permissible limits. The samples collected by Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration proved that MAGGI’s advertising messages, driven home by Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit – falsely boasted “nutritional value” of the noodles. The common people increasingly feel they are being cheated and I can sense that outrage against stars end...