Internet-Based Tobacco Control Program In Czech Republic
Teen smokingtarget
of Czech
program
The main goal of the project -- started in June 1999-- was to build indigenous
capacity of Czech health professionals and lay volunteers in the use of
contemporary information technology to heighten public awareness and catalyze
policy change necessary for the creation of a tobacco-free environment
in the Czech Republic. A Czech Tobacco-Control Training and Communications
Program (TOB-CCP)-a demonstration program-located at IKEM- is continuing
to train health professionals from Czech district level District Hygiene
Stations (DITs) and other tobacco-control professionals and NGO's in using
contemporary information technology for public policy advocacy and tobacco
control. The project is spearheaded by CECHE's key Czech partners, Drs
Rudolf Poledne of IKEM and Hana Sovonova of NIPH.
Key international partners are UICC-GLOBALink
of Geneva, for providing training in Internet and tobacco control communications,
and the National Center for Tobacco-Free Kids and the Advocacy Institute,
both in Washington, D.C. - for training in advocacy and policy reform.
The project has led to the creation of an electronic network of
Czech health professionals and NGOs and the establishment of a Czech
Heart Association (CHA) -- the first grassroots membership organization
dedicated to smoking and cardiovascular disease prevention. The
CHA is patterned after the American Heart Association, one of the oldest
and most successful private voluntary organizations engaged in health
promotion and tobacco control in the United States. The experience in
the Czech Republic will be considered for wide scale applicability in
the CEE-NIS region and elsewhere.
Project Goals and Objectives
Form an Internet-based network comprising health professionals from Czech district level hygiene stations (DITs), heart disease-prevention NGOs other professionals concerned with tobacco-control.Train & Enhance Capacity of the organizations and individuals in use of the Internet for research and communication on tobacco issues October 1999; April 2000; June2000; Tobacco-Control Conference
Establish an advocacy and cardiovascular disease prevention NGO (using this network as a mechanism) dedicated to reducing tobacco use and reforming tobacco policies in the Czech Republic.
Project Outcomes
- A self-sustaining Tobacco-Control Training and Communications Program with excellence in communications technology, and regional, national and international linkage and outreach. For major events, download the CECHE-IKEM-NIPH brochure (czebroch.pdf)
- Targeted information technology and skills transfer workshops(October 1999; April 2000; June2000; August 2000 ) and a Tobacco-Control Conference conducted at the project hub and in various districts of the Czech Republic
- A demand-based resource service on tobacco control equipped with high-quality resource materials for the Internet and computerized database and research capabilities that cater to requests
- A comprehensive data collection system to support program operations and pre- and post-surveys of knowledge, skills and applications among the participating organizations to assess program impact.
- Continuous electronic-media tobacco-control campaigns, which increasingly engage more groups in Czech society in tobacco control. Learn about project participation in WHOs Quit and Win campaign.
- A website with an electronic bulletin board, resource directory, What's New listing. Visit the project homepage at Czech Ministrys National Institute of Public Healths website for up-to-date reports on current events.
- Monthly electronic bulletins with nationwide and international circulation.
Evaluation of each workshop and the tobacco control Conference demonstrates that the project accomplished al its major goals, indeed, exceeded them. Review and comment on the Impact of this project.
The project also generated important lessons for the future-in particular that strong local partners and commitment to the project is key to success-or failure. Read about the Lessons from his project.
Questions? Comments? Concerns? E-mail CECHE at CECHE@comcast.net
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