Inter-American Heart Foundation
Year(s) : 2010, 2009, 2008
Grant Recipient Type : NGO / Nonprofit
Grantor : International Union Against Tobacco and Lung Disease (The Union)/WLF
Project goal : To promote and monitor the development of regulations, effective enforcement and compliance with 100% smoke-free policies in Mexico City.
Direct Grant : No
The Union
Key achievement to date: Mexico City is effectively smoke-free in the hospitality sector.
Objective: This grant supports
MPOWER letter goal P, to Protect people from
tobacco smoke.
Major
accomplishments to date:
- Smoke-free legislation and related bylaws came into effect in April 2008.
- Created alliances with government officials; ongoing advocacy for smoke-free legislation implementation and enforcement; letters sent to letter to Congressmen and union leaders to gain support for tobacco control laws.
- Undertook compliance monitoring; 30 non-compliant restaurants sent warning letters.
- Produced analysis of the "Mercantile Establishments Law;" conducted analysis of the "Unconstitutionality Action" against the smoke-free law launched by 8 local congressmen; ongoing monitoring of opposition to smoke-free laws.
- Nominated Mexico City Government for WHO World No Tobacco Day and 2008 RSNT awards.
- Compiled inventory of smoke-free print, radio and television ads.
- Produced and aired three radio spots, "Por fin nos dieron un respiro."
- Launched two media campaigns; participated in media conferences; produced and published media bulletins.
- Launched campaign "Gracias a ti" ("Thanks to you"), which included printed materials, a radio jingle, a video with testimonials of restaurant owners, bracelets for youth, and postcards for restaurant owners, patrons, and workers.
- Worked with Federal District government to distribute information to general public, restaurant owners, workers, patrons, policy makers, and doctors; distributed 15,000 postcards about negative effects of SHS and tobacco use.
- Published results of the second INSP survey; developed messages demonstrating that smoke-free policies do not have negative economic impact on restaurants and bars.
- Produced video with testimonials of restaurant owners and customers supporting 100% smoke-free environments.
- Developed and launched website: www.interamericanheart.org/ficmexico.
- Identified civil society and government partners to expand campaign to the states of Queretaro and Estado de México. (The latter, surrounds the Federal District, and includes more than half of the Mexico City metropolitan area.)
- Informal partnerships established with other civil society organizations and government representatives.
- Launched campaigns "Por fin nos dieron un respiro" and "Se respire respeto."
- Produced factsheets for media conferences and bulletins for mass media; held meetings with government officials.
- Interviewed staff from social marketing division of the Ministry of Health.
- General Law for Tobacco Control approved by both legislative houses on February 26, 2008, and published on May 30.
- Undertook ongoing lobbying for stringent regulations and enforcement; produced final version of the Ley Tipo and presented it to local Congressmen; organized workshop to draft Legal Agreement for Advertising and Warning Labels.
- Identified potential allies and provided information to them; produced video about successful case of smoke-free environments in Mexico City.
- Regular meetings established with core team.