During the financial year 2021-22, approximately 175 schools in the Bokaro district were declared tobacco-free educational institutions; a total of 2292 people sought counselling services at the Tobacco De-addiction Centers (at Sadar Hospital, and BGH), of which 259 people quit smoking, informed Civil Surgeon Dr. AB Prasad.
As a result, he explained, all of the district's health and wellness centres now offer counselling services to help people quit smoking, and doctors can be reached by teleconsultation.
There were 365 shops, and individuals were fined in the last financial year, with a total of Rs. 60480 being collected, he said.
In the 13 to 15-year-old age bracket, 5.1 percent of children begin smoking, according to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2019. There is a prohibition on the sale or distribution of tobacco products to minors in COTPA-2003 section 6A. “According to the POSCO Act, if anyone breaks the rules, they might be fined Rs 200 or face legal action,” she added.
“So we must make the people around us aware,” added Lakda.
Dr. NP Singh Nodal Officer, NTCP Bokaro stated that tobacco use is not only harmful to one's health, but it is also harmful to one's ecosystem. When people smoke tobacco, they release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which raises the temperature on the planet. To sum it up, tobacco's venom is poisonous to water, forests, and all life on Earth. A situation like this necessitates that we all quit smoking ourselves and assist others do the same," he said.
Around 59.7 percent of males and 17 percent of females use tobacco in Jharkhand, according to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey, said Md Aslam, District Consultant.
On Tuesday, the Civil Surgeon's office held an oath and signature campaign in honour of World No Tobacco Day. Dr. AB Prasad delivered the oath to all of the office personnel, and the signature campaign was signed. A tree-planting programme was carried out by all government officials, including the Civil Surgeon Office and the Dalsa Office in Bokaro, as well as by the city's residents and workers.