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The Kenya Tobacco Control Alliance (KETCA) held a one day workshop 10^th August 2010, training of Women leaders in Western Province.  The venue of the workshop was at KAMEDEP Guest House in Kakamega.

The turnout was impressive, 34 women and five facilitators. These were topics that were covered

·        Tobacco and Health

·        Tobacco and women, Western Kenya Dilemma

·        The Tobacco Control Act

·        The importance of  graphic warning

·        Tobacco Control Reinforcement

·        Alternative cropping  in Western Kenya

The day started at 8.20 am with a prayer from a participant.  The moderator led us through the programme and participants raised their expectations as follows:

i)                   Know what KETCA stands for and her efforts in tobacco control

ii)                  Know the side effects of tobacco growing, production and exposure

iii)                Know  if there are other alternatives of tobacco

iv)                Network with other women/organizations in tobacco control

v)                 Know the laws on tobacco

vi)                Know why the government is not banning tobacco

vii)              Expect to get a certificate by the end of the workshop

By the end of the day, participants agreed that the workshop was very useful to them.

These are the key things most of them said they had learnt in the workshop

i)                   Tobacco use increasing among women

ii)                  A lot of time is spent treating diseases caused  by tobacco

iii)                That there is the tobacco control Act

iv)                Women and children are the most affected as a  result of tobacco growing, exposure and second hand smoking

v)                 Tobacco lowers productivity of a country therefore causes disability, poverty and death

vi)                Tobacco kills many people than HIV/Aids

Resolution

After the workshop, women made the following resolutions :

1.      Always to alert KETCA of their activities in tobacco control

2.      Challenged KETCA to organize seminars in tobacco growing areas

3.      Women to sensitize their families, students, church and the community at large. This will be done at the  Chief’s baraza,  funerals, in schools  etc.

4.      Participants shall form  alliances and register with KETCA as  members

5.      After registration with KETCA, they will be able to get Information and Communication materials for their campaigns.

KETCA also extended her training in Kisumu Nyanza Province on 24^th August and Eldoret Rift Valley Province on 26^th August. All women agreed that the training was a great benefit to them and the society. They agreed that they will extend the campaign to their communities through churches, women organizations, school, chief baraza etc.