Punjab Government on Tuesday initiated a drive to wipe out tobacco usage to save children and youth across the State.
Punjab is the first State in the country who celebrated a state-specific ‘Punjab State No Tobacco Day’ on November 1. The theme of Punjab State No Tobacco Day-2022 campaign is “Tobacco Free Health Institutions”. The motive of this campaign is to make all the institutions ‘tobacco-free’ and to protect non-users from involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke.
Divulging about Punjab Government’s strenuous efforts to eradicate tobacco usage in adolescent groups and youth, the state Health and Family Welfare Minister Chetan Singh Jauramajra said that a special week-long campaign has been launched from November 1 to 7 for declaring all the government health institutions as tobacco-free and for the strict implementation of anti-tobacco laws. At district level, all the government health institutions will be declared as tobacco-free.
Jauramajra urged that everyone should pledge to make Punjab a tobacco-free state as tobacco use is associated with a range of communicable and non-communicable diseases and mental health disorders, wreaking a high social cost.
The Minister said that Punjab is a pioneer state to focus on youth by timely ban on E-cigarettes, hookah bars, and by declaring schools as tobacco-free. “State will continue making efforts to curb this menace of tobacco usage as this will go a long way in deterring young children and youth from initiation and also motivate current users to quit,” he added.
Tobacco Use in Punjab Declines from 19.2% to 12.9% in 5 Years
As per the National Family Health Survey 2020-21 (NFHS-5) conducted under the aegis of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the tobacco use among men in Punjab state declined from 19.2 per cent (NFHS-4) to 12.9 per cent (NFHS-5) during the last five years, which is lowest among all the states of the country.
10,708 Challans Issued to Violators of COTPA Between April-Sept This Year
Jauramajra, speaking more about the ongoing initiative, said that the state Health Department has taken up tobacco control as a flagship program. Total 14,065 (2021–22) and 10,708 (April–Sept 22) challans have been issued against the violators under Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 (COTPA, 2003).
Punjab’s All Districts Have Tobacco Cessation Centers
Tobacco Cessation Centers (TCCs) have been established in all districts. Free counseling services and cessation medicines like Tab Bupropion, Nicotine gums, and patches are being provided in these centers. Total 19,932 (2021- 22) and 5142 (April–Sept 2022) tobacco users have availed services at TCCs. More than 700 villages in the State have been declared as Tobacco Free.