Monitoring actions in schools and medical institutions

In November and early December, 2009 the “Tobacco Control Alliance” conducted another round of monitoring in Tbilisi schools and clinics. The aim of the monitoring was to find out how the legislation regarding ban of smoking in mentioned buildings is enforced. In the range of monitoring round Alliance members have visited several schools and clinics in Tbilisi. During this round we have made special emphasize on antenatal (maternity welfare) clinics and maternity hospitals.

The monitoring revealed very alarming situation both in schools and clinics. Especially alarming is the fact that almost in all visited antenatal clinics doctors are smoking directly in their rooms, even in presence of pregnant women there. This fact has double negative effect on Georgian society. From the first hand this fact further promotes the smoking among young women, which is very alarming considering the rate of smoking prevalence among this category in Georgia. From the other hand due to the smoking of doctors pregnant women are under the exposure of passive smoking.

Alliance members have consulted administrations of visited schools and clinics and provided them with the information materials. They also have been offered the possibility to organize special seminars and presentations for the personnel.

In schools along the monitoring Alliance members have conducted special seminars and discussions on negative effects of smoking. Also informed the pupils about the conditions for participation in the Competition of Smoke-Free Buildings, which will be summarized in December, 2009. The pupils have been invited to prepare drawings to be exhibited during the award ceremony.

The information was widely distributed in media sources and gained big interest among them.