Punjab Government on Thursday claimed it has initiated a crusade to eradicate tobacco use t o save children and youth across the State.
Brahm Mohindra, Health & Family Welfare Minister said that Health Department has been pursuing the agenda to bring down tobacco consumption in Punjab and 10 Tobacco Cessation centers have been opened from December 1. He said free tobacco cessation services are being provided to the patients who want to quit Tobacco use.
Anjali Bhawra, Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare said that District Tobacco Control Cell and Tobacco Cessation centers have been set up in districts Amritsar, Bathinda, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, ludhiana, Patiala, SAS Nagar, Sangrur and Sri Muktsar Sahib. "This step would go a long way in saving our future generations from the menace of Tobacco," she said, adding, that all the districts of Punjab have been declared as 'Tobacco Smoke Free' (TSF) on the basis of compliance study by PGIMER.
Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration, Varun Roojam said that strict action will be initiated against those selling flavored or scented tobacco as the state has banned the sale and distribution of tobacco in the State. He said vendors who are into the sale of e-cigarettes and 'Hookah Bars' have also been on the radar of health authorities.
Dr Rajiv Bhalla, Director Health Services, Punjab said that in Punjab 80 people die every day because of tobacco consumption. He said in the centers, free tobacco cessation services like counseling and medications are being provided to users of tobacco. He added that more than 395 village panchayats have declared their villages as Tobacco free.