Tobacco use is one of the main risk factors for a number of chronic diseases
- Breaking NewsCHANDIGARHHEADLINES
- March 3, 2023
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The Health Department UT Chandigarh organized a National Tobacco Control Programme for Stakeholder Departments and Health Care Professionals at Hotel Mount View with the technical support of The Union – South East Asia, GSA, SIPHER and RCTC- PGIMER on 3rd March, 2023.
The workshop was inaugurated by Yashpal Garg, Secretary Health in the presence of Dr Suman Singh Director Health and Family Welfare ,Dr VK Nagpal Medical Superintendent and other senior officials of the Health Department. The workshop was attended by over hundred delegates from various government departments and non government organisations.
Sh Yaspal Garg, (IAS) Health Secretary, Chandigarh while chairing the Workshop on National Tobacco Control Programme said, “Tobacco use is one of the main risk factors for a number of chronic diseases, including cancer, lung diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. Most people are exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes, their place of work, at public places like bars, restaurants.” “Each department has an important role in tobacco control by making their offices not just smoke free but also tobacco free. No kind of tobacco use should be allowed in and around departmental offices.
Strict action should be taken against public smoking in departments by the department heads.”, he further added.
Dr Suman Singh, Director Health and Family Welfare, Chandigarh added that Tobacco use is one of the main risk factors for several chronic diseases, including cancer, lung diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. The Government of India has enacted The Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 in May, 2003. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India launched the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) in the year 2007-08 during the 11th Five-Year-Plan. The Programme is being implemented in all 36 States/Union Territories across the country, including the Union Territory of Chandigarh.”
Dr Virender Nagpal, Medical Superintendent, GMSH -16, Chandigarh, said that most people are exposed to passive smoking in their homes or their places of work. People may also be exposed to secondhand smoke in public places like bars, restaurants. Therefore primarily we need to focus on taking strict action against public smoking.
Prominent speakers from different areas Dr Rana J Singh, Deputy Regional Director, The Union , Dr Mira Aghi, a Behaviour scientist and a Luther Terry Awardee , Ms Opinder Preet Kaur Gill, Director Generation Saviour Association, Dr Rakesh Gupta, President SIPHER, Dr Sonu Goel, Professor, Department of Community Medicine, PGIMER, Dr Gopal Chauhan, SPO, NCDs, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Himachal Pradesh , Deepak Mishra, Executive Director, SEEDS congratulated Chandigarh Administration for its laudable work in tobacco control and said that Chandigarh is the pioneer for being the first smoke free city in India, as a lot of tourists visit the City Beautiful every day.
Dr Deepinder Singh, State Nodal Officer, NTCP, Chandigarh said that inter- departmental coordination is the key to a successful programme. He urged all the departments to form enforcement squads, wherein members of stakeholder departments can come together and carry out sensitization and enforcement drives. Adding to it Dr Anuj Bishnoi, Consultant, NTCP said that tobacco control is the responsibility of each department. “Together they can achieve Tobacco Free Chandigarh.” he said.