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Tag: Dr Bhavna Barmi

  • Khushbu Sundar and Kishwar Desai join Mothers Against Vaping to combat new-age gateway devices

    Khushbu Sundar and Kishwar Desai join Mothers Against Vaping to combat new-age gateway devices

    Mumbai: Khushbu Sundar, actress and politician, a special invitee of BJP national executive committee and a member of the national commission for women and author and columnist Kishwar Desai has joined Mothers Against Vaping, a united front of concerned mothers combatting the escalating vaping crisis among the youth.

    Mothers Against Vaping has been highlighting and confronting the global tobacco industry’s alleged strategies to lure children with new-age gateway devices like e-cigarettes, vapes, electronic nicotine delivery systems, heat-not-burn products, e-hookahs, etc. These devices have been positioned as safer alternatives to traditional tobacco smoking, yet these products pose severe risks to the health of children and the youth.

    Khushbu Sundar and Kishwar Desai joined Mothers Against Vaping at an event titled “Saving the Next Generation from New-Age Addictions”, organised by the Group on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day 2024 in the Indian International Centre, New Delhi.

    They join a distinguished group of leading sports icons and influential role models like Baichung Bhutia, Deepa Malik and Neha Dhupia who stand with Mothers Against Vaping in their efforts to eradicate the menace of vaping and e-cigarettes from the lives of children.

    Joining Mothers Against Vaping, Khushbu Sundar, speaking about the dangerous impact that vaping and e-cigarettes are having on the lives of children and the youth said, “As a nation, we are making great strides, towards securing a bright future for our children. However, we must confront pressing issues that plague their present reality, such as the alarming prevalence of New Age Gateway Devices like e-cigarettes and vapes. It is deeply troubling to see how manufacturers of such devices are targeting our children with the intention of creating their future customer base with these enticingly sleek and sophisticated products.”

    “Apart from the dangerous health risks posed to our children and youth due to the usage of these products, it also jeopardizes their future career prospects and also hinders their potential contributions to our nation’s growth and development. To secure the future of our nation we need to also secure the future of our children. It is highly critical that we make all efforts to remove the usage of these illegal and banned devices from our society. I fully support Mothers Against Vaping in their mission to remove the influence of these addictive devices from the lives of our children,” Khushbu added.

    Author and columnist Kishwar Desai said, “With sleek electronic devices captivating children’s attention nowadays, they are often drawn to try them out—whether to appear cool, satisfy curiosity or as a means to express themselves. But this is a dangerous road. As mothers, citizens and thought leaders, it is our duty to hold up a mirror to them and convey that this road only leads to disaster and a life unfulfilled.”

    The government over the years has proactively taken steps to address this issue, however, the unscrupulous elements continue to find new ways, and therefore there is a need to strengthen the enforcement framework; and one step in that direction could be to substantially increase the penal provisions against the perpetrators,” Desai added.

    At the event, Mothers from various walks of life united under Mothers Against Vaping and pledged to protect children from the global tobacco industry’s interference which aligned with the WHO theme of “Protecting Children from Tobacco Industry Interference” on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day 2024.

    The pledge ceremony was conducted with a large number of mothers in attendance taking part. The chief guest, Padma Shri Khel Ratna & Arjuna Awardee and a prominent member of Mothers Against Vaping – Deepa Malik, led the pledge ceremony. She said, “This pledge is crucial. I am deeply troubled to see how our children are being lured by the tactics of device manufacturers, risking lifelong addictions not just to nicotine but to even more dangerous substances. It is heart breaking to witness children engaging in such activities when there are much more engaging activities like sports which they can participate in and move towards a bright future and Fit India in a healthy manner. We must organize more events like this and raise awareness about this pressing issue affecting our children.”

    Talking about the reasons for the rising popularity of these new-age devices among children, clinical psychologist and Happiness Studio founder Dr Bhavna Barmi said, “Children’s mental states make them highly susceptible to early experimentation with addictive behaviours. Hence, we are witnessing a troubling surge in children being drawn to enticing electronic addictive devices like vapes and e-cigarettes. A major factor fuelling this trend is the packaging and advertising tactics employed by manufacturers of these modern devices.”

    At the event, Mothers Against Vaping released a four-point agenda to counter and neutralise five popular alleged strategies adopted by global tobacco industry to promote gateway devices to young children.

    The five popular global tobacco industry alleged strategies to promote new-age gateway devices to children include the Industry’s focus on new-age gateway electronic devices rather than traditional tobacco products as children readily adopt these devices; spreading misinformation that e-cigarette and similar electronic devices like heat-not-burn devices are less harmful than traditional tobacco products; hooking children early on; digital marketing and smuggling of these devices to escape regulations banning vapes and e-cigarettes.

    The four-point agenda released by Mothers Against Vaping to counter the Global Tobacco Industry strategies includes Educating stakeholders through robust campaigns; Providing information about health hazards by Healthcare professionals, particularly doctors; Utilising the Same Marketing Tools and Digital Spaces that the MNC Tobacco companies are using and urging policymakers to address smuggling.

    Digital marketing serves as a powerful tool for targeting children, portraying these devices as cool and desirable. Through platforms like social media, online ads and influencer partnerships, the tobacco industry allegedly glamorizes these products, effectively popularizing them among children and youth. Interestingly Mothers Against Vaping contends that the same digital platforms should be used to launch effective campaigns across various digital channels, including influencers whom children admire and relate to.

    These campaigns can promote messages centered around valuing one’s body and embracing individuality. In the campaigns, children can be encouraged to reject gateway devices and adopt positive behaviours, such as expressing their uniqueness which can lead to the enhancement of their self-worth and self-esteem as well as enable them to be well-informed and make confident choices. Mothers and teachers should also be effectively engaged in these digital spaces. There is also a need to urge policymakers to bring in stringent laws against various marketing and digital tools that are being deployed.

  • Mothers Against Vaping celebrates mother-child bond with special Mother’s Day campaign

    Mothers Against Vaping celebrates mother-child bond with special Mother’s Day campaign

    Mumbai: Mothers Against Vaping, a united front of concerned mothers combatting the escalating vaping crisis among our youth, on the occasion of Mother’s Day has launched a unique campaign. The campaign seeks to transform the customary act of giving gifts on Mother’s Day into a powerful pledge from children to their mothers – a promise to never touch new-age gateway devices like vapes and e-cigarettes.

    By taking this pledge, children are not only expressing their appreciation for their mothers but also safeguarding themselves against the dangers of addiction and associated health risks posed by these new-age devices.

    In the spirit of Mother’s Day, Mothers Against Vaping believes that the greatest gift a child can give to their mother is a commitment to prioritize their health and well-being by rejecting such harmful new-age addictive devices.  These devices come in various forms including vapes, e-cigarettes and ‘heat-not-burn’ pens and are loaded with harmful substances like nicotine, diacetyl which are linked to serious lung disease. These devices also include cancer-causing chemicals and heavy metals like nickel, tin and lead.

    Talking about the relevance of such a campaign, clinical psychologist and Happiness Studio founder Dr. Bhavna Barmi said, “These new-age devices come in attractive appearances and child-friendly flavours but are a serious threat as children once addicted to these gateway devices can be lured into experimenting with more harmful substances. We need more such innovative campaigns to spread awareness among children as well as parents to highlight the dangers of vaping.”

    “It is a mother’s right to safeguard the health of her children above all else and Mother’s Day is a beautiful occasion to highlight this aspect of a mother-child bond. By pledging to abstain from vaping, children are not only expressing their love for their mothers but also making a conscious and wise choice to prioritize their own health and well-being. Such choices set them on a path of happiness and a contended life, free from any addictive behaviours,” Dr. Barmi added.

    The week-long “Mother’s Day Pledge Campaign,” is already underway and will lead up to Mother’s Day on 12 May 2024. During the campaign, Mothers Against Vaping is encouraging all mothers to join the campaign and initiate conversations with their children about the dangers of vaping. By fostering open communication and setting positive examples, mothers can play a pivotal role in steering their children away from these harmful habits and towards healthier lifestyles.

    As part of the campaign initiative, mom influencers will be mobilizing their social media followers, particularly on platforms like Instagram, to spread the message of #MothersAgainstVaping. The goal is to create a long Instagram thread under the hashtag #MothersAgainstVaping, featuring more and more mothers to join the campaign against vaping and asking their children to stay healthy and stay away from these new-age devices forever.

  • Neha Dhupia joins Mothers Against Vaping’s fight against tobacco devices targeting children

    Neha Dhupia joins Mothers Against Vaping’s fight against tobacco devices targeting children

    Mumbai: ‘Mothers Against Vaping’, a united front of concerned mothers combatting the promotion of new-age tobacco devices such as e-cigarettes and vapes among Indian children and youth announced that Neha Dhupia, renowned actress, model and mother has given her consent to support their cause and joined their ranks. Her invaluable support brings forth a powerful message of concern and determination to combat this growing crisis among our children.

    Despite a nationwide ban, international manufacturers are leaving no stone unturned to promote these new-Age tobacco devices with specific focus on Indian children and youth as they desperately search for new markets against the backdrop of tightening regulations. Mothers Against Vaping has been running an awareness programme, to raise awareness of this troubling reality, and urging immediate action from parents, educators and policymakers.

    Neha Dhupia, known for her outspokenness and an inspiration for women, firmly advocates for the Mothers Against Vaping movement. She expressed support saying “As a responsible mother, I wholeheartedly support the Mothers Against Vaping group and their cause. The issue is deeply alarming, and all mothers should be concerned as it directly impacts the health of our children. We, as mothers, must unite, raise our voices and increase awareness against vaping and electronic cigarettes to ensure that such habits are completely eradicated from the lives of our children and youth.”

    Mothers Against Vaping campaign is also supported by eminent personalities like Dr Deepa Malik – Padma Shri, Khel Ratna Arjuna Awardee; Dr Bhavna Barmi who is an internationally acclaimed  clinical psychologist, a public speaker, founder of Happiness Studio and head psychologist at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute; Dr Varuna Pathak, a former professor of gynaecology and obstetrics at the Gandhi Medical College; Kamaljeet Kaur – famous calligraphy artist and Vaishali Sharma – founder The Champa Tree, a parenting blog among others.

    The campaign will receive a significant boost with Neha lending her support to this crucial cause. Its reach holds the promise of significantly reducing vaping among children and safeguarding their health. As per Mothers Against Vaping, it is imperative for policymakers and stakeholders to understand the agenda of international marketers and launch extensive awareness initiatives on the harmful effects of vaping and electronic cigarettes such as heat-not-burn tobacco products. The dissemination of impactful advertisements should extend beyond movie halls, encompassing diverse public spaces to rectify misconceptions.

    Such awareness campaigns are essential to counteract the deceptive marketing strategies employed by e-cigarette manufacturers to promote these new-age tobacco devices and heat-no-burn tobacco products. These devices, often adorned with eye-catching designs and flavoured with strawberry or bubble gum, have gained immense popularity among children. As digital natives, today’s children and youth are quick to embrace new technologies, making them particularly susceptible to the allure of vaping. This trend poses a serious threat of addiction, as e-cigarettes and other new-age tobacco devices can serve as gateway devices for introducing users to harmful substances like cocaine and heroin.

    The mission of Mothers Against Vaping is dedicated to instilling positive values in our children and shielding them from the clutches of vices present in an increasingly bad and complex world.  The support from influential figures like Neha Dhupia will amplify the campaign of Mothers Against Vaping and create more awareness about the detrimental effects of vaping among children.