As part of the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use, the Institute for Global Tobacco Control (IGTC) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has launched a Chinese language version of its free web-based instructional training course “Global Tobacco Control: Learning from the Experts.” The translated course is available at www.globaltobaccocontrol.org and will be accessible for Chinese professionals working in tobacco control.
According to the World Health Organization, China is home to 350 million, or one-third, of the world’s total smokers. If current trends continue, China’s tobacco-related death toll could reach 2.2 million per year by 2020 and 3 million per year by 2050. This website aims to give Chinese health professionals the knowledge necessary to prevent those deaths.
GlobalTobaccoControl.org, developed by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health with support from the Bloomberg Initiative, has been available in English since 2007. Nearly 2,000 users have registered for the course.
"We are able to offer the most up-to-date, comprehensive training for research and policy guidance in the world," says David Holtgrave, director of the IGTC. "Our launch of a Chinese language site underscores our commitment to working with our Chinese colleagues. It is an honor to provide this service and collaborate in this way."
The website offers free instructional training in tobacco control for policy makers, researchers, educators and the general public. From the site, participants will learn develop and implement effective tobacco control programs, advocate for anti-smoking regulations and craft media campaigns that make a difference. The 10 multimedia educational modules that currently comprise the site feature tobacco control experts from around the world. A certificate of completion is issued upon completion of the online training.
Users have the opportunity to select their language preference (English or Chinese) upon entering the site. Future plans include the translation of the training program into four other languages: French, Spanish, Arabic and Russian.
GlobalTobaccoControl.org is the latest effort by the Bloomberg School of Public Health to use the Internet as a means of transferring knowledge to health professionals around the world.
Public Affairs media contact: Tim Parsons at 410-955-7619 or tmparson@jhsph.edu.