Uttarakhand: World No Tobacco Day Awareness program on tobacco prevention and its side effects organized in Dehradun
Ahead of World No Tobacco Day, National Health Mission (NHM) Uttarakhand organised an awareness programme on tobacco prevention and its side effects at Delhi Public School, Dehradun.
While making the students present at the awareness programme aware about the harmful effects of tobacco under the National Tobacco Control Programme, Swati S Bhadauria, Mission Director, NHM told the students that we should all make people around us aware about the harmful effects of tobacco and motivate them to get rid of this dangerous habit.
The Mission Director informed that tobacco is harmful for health in any quantity, but it also has adverse effects on the health of people around them, especially pregnant women, newborns and children. Consumption of tobacco causes many fatal diseases, including cancer, heart disease, lung and brain diseases.
While appealing to the students present in the program, the Mission Director said that children should not choose tobacco in search of something new but should adopt some adventure sports like bungee jumping, snow ski, mountain climbing, etc. We all should decide to fight together so that we can all move towards a healthy and positive society. On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day, we all should pledge to play our role in the fight against tobacco.
Awareness was created on tobacco prevention through street plays and flash mobs in the program and the winning participants were also honored in the panel discussion organized on tobacco prevention by the dignitaries.
Dr. Aditya Singh, Officer-in-Charge, National Tobacco Control Program (NTCP) is being operated in all the districts of the state. Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production Supply and Distribution) Act 2003 (COTPA) was implemented in the state to stop the use of tobacco. On violation of COTPA, 2003, challan is issued to the persons and fine is recovered.
The objective of the National Tobacco Control Program is to create awareness about the ill effects of tobacco and the Tobacco Control Act. Tobacco de-addiction centers have been established in the district hospitals of all the districts of the state. Effective implementation is being done by forming a district level coordination committee and task force at the district level, which will reduce smoking in public places and educational institutions.
School Principal Bupesh Kumar Singh, Vice Principal Sujata Singh and National Health Mission in-charge officer Dr. Ajay Kumar Nagarkar, Dr. Fariduzaffar, Dr. Pankaj Singh, Dr. Archana Ojha, Dr. Akanksha Nirala and other officers and employees were present in the program.
