‘World No Tobacco Day’: Govt involves brand ambassadors to limit tobacco use

Srinagar, May 31: J&K Health and Medical Education Department has involved brand ambassadors in its fight against tobacco use as over 20 percent of the population is indulging in tobacco consumption.
Administrative Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department, Bhupinder Kumar said they have involved brand ambassadors and it will further help to limit tobacco use.
“We have involved some brand ambassadors and leading personalities like Dr Shahid Iqbal Chowdhary, CEO Mission Youth, J&K, Dr Sushil Razdan, a noted neurologist and Parvez Rasool, cricketer and they have joined the campaign to fight tobacco consumption,” he said on the sidelines of World No Tobacco Day at Govt. Dental College Srinagar, which was organized by DHSK.
Kumar said collective efforts are needed to save people from ill effects of tobacco consumption adding there has been a change in the habits of people as far as smoke at public places is concerned.
“Tobacco is a major risk factor and causes several diseases including several types of cancers. The day aims to renew the beliefs that we together have to fight the tobacco consumption in society,” the Secretary Health said.
“It is aimed to take this message to all the people across the villages and cities especially to the new generation so that they remain away from tobacco consumption and we make a healthy society,” he said.
Kumar also said over the years, there has been a decrease in the incidence of smokers especially women smokers and the government efforts have brought a visible change on the ground.
Dr Shahid Iqbal Chowdhary, CEO Mission Youth, J&K, Mission Director, NHM, J&K, Ayushi Sudan, Director Ayush, Dr Mohan Singh, Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Rather, Principal GMC Srinagar, Dr Masood Tanvir, Principal Govt. Dental College Srinagar, Dr Riyaz Farooq, Director Family Welfare, MCH and Immunization, J&K, Dr Tabasum Jabeen, Dr Mir Mushtaq, State Nodal Officer (NTCP), Deputy Director DHSK, Dr Bashir Ahmad Khan, Parvez Rasool cricketer besides other officers and officials of the health department were present on the occasion.
The brand ambassadors thanked the health department and vowed to fight for the social cause and assured that they will help in generating awareness among people.
Mission Director, NHM, J&K, Ayushi Sudan that the figures of tobacco prevalence in Jammu and Kashmir are very concerning, however the concept of brand ambassadors and other awareness measures will go a long way in reducing the prevalence of tobacco.
Principal GMC Srinagar, Dr Masood Tanvir said tobacco is dangerous to the health and causes several health issues and disease among tobacco users.
During the event, the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir launched the “Tobacco Free Youth Campaign” and “Tobacco Free Village Campaign”.
Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Rather said tobacco consumption is the gate to drug addiction and also informed about several initiatives of the health department.
He also said the objective of Anti-Tobacco Day is to educate the public about health risks associated with tobacco use, including smoking and smokeless tobacco products.
Dr Mir Mushtaq, State Nodal Officer (Kashmir Division), National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), gave an overview of the NTCP and enumerated several challenges in the implementation of the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA).