Kashmir among best performing states under ‘Tobacco Free Youth Campaign’

Srinagar, July 03: The activities carried out under the Government of India’s Tobacco Free Youth Campaign in Kashmir division have made it among the best performing States in the country in a fresh review done by the Union Health Ministry, officials said on Monday.
The Tobacco Free Youth Campaign in Jammu and Kashmir was launched by Administrative Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department, Bhupinder Kumar on 31 May.
The campaign is being monitored by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Government of India. Since the campaign was launched, every week the ministry comes up with performances of various States.
Dr Mir Mushtaq, State Nodal Officer (Kashmir Division), National Tobacco Control Program (NTCP) said the latest review of the health ministry has revealed that Kashmir Division is among the best performing States in the country in the campaign.
“Kashmir Division is among the best performing States with regard to IEC activities under the campaign,” he said.
He said that it is teamwork and he expressed gratitude to the Administrative Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department, former MD NHM Ayushi Sudan, Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Rather for their unconditional support.
“We express gratitude to Chief Medical Officers, Medical Superintendents and Block Medical Officers, Nodal Officer Tobacco Control Cell Kashmir Division for excellent work,” he said.
On the other side, Kashmir Division has been listed among the States actively involved in awareness activities in Educational Institutions like no tobacco pledge, school rallies and competitions with regard to the Tobacco Free Educational Institutions (ToEFI) guidelines.
“The Education Department Kashmir has played a pivotal role in the implementation of the Tobacco Free Youth Campaign. It was only possible with the Directions of the Director School Education that all the schools in the valley conducted activities,” he said.
Many activities were taken up and violators have been fined from different districts of Kashmir since the campaign was launched on 31 May on World No Tobacco Day.
Mir said that every week enforcement drives are conducted and awareness camps are being conducted in villages, schools, communities, Mohallas etc.
“The main focus of the campaign is on the implementation of ToFEI and COTPA 2003 in schools across the valley. In a year we may have all schools in the valley smoking-free,” he said.
The State Nodal Officer said tobacco control can be achieved by awareness against use of tobacco and the implementation of COTPA and ToFEI around educational institutions.
The State Nodal Officer said under the nationwide tobacco program, activities including evidence-based mass media campaigns, warnings against the harmful effects of tobacco consumption, motivational activities to quit the element, etc. will be held.
He said tobacco use brings losses through related diseases and deaths to many users, their families and society at large. The three main diseases caused by tobacco use are cancer, coronary artery disease and chronic obstructive lung disease.
As per the National Health Survey, J&K is sixth highest in the country after North Eastern States i.e., Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Meghalaya and Mizoram in terms of tobacco consumption.
As per the NHS figures, the prevalence of tobacco in Kashmir includes Kupwara 56 percent, Shopian 52 percent, Anantnag and Bandipora 49 percent, Budgam 48, Pulwama 44, Ganderbal 42, Baramulla and Kulgam 41 percent and Srinagar 38 percent.
Officials also said all the heads of the Health Department were provided challan books and signage for enforcement but there was “no sign of implementation” on the ground.
Health officials said the lack of exclusive manpower in districts is a major challenge for the health department in terms of enforcement. Although the government has imposed a blanket ban on e-cigarettes and loose cigarettes, the sale of loose cigarettes continues rampantly.
Tobacco use is associated with accelerated mortality among adults, especially in low- and middle-income countries, where the burden of tobacco-related illness and death is heaviest.