Punjab Government on Monday, on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day, launched a drive to eradicate tobacco use to save children and youth.
A special week-long campaign has been launched in all the districts from may 31 to June 6, and during this campaign, all the government health facilities will be declared as ‘Tobacco Free’ and ‘No Tobacco Pledge’ will be taken at all health facilities, said the state Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu.
A state-level Anti-Tobacco radio campaign and audio announcement at bus stands have also been launched to spread awareness among the people.
Sidhu said that ‘World No Tobacco Day’ is observed around the world every year on May 31, and this year theme of is ‘Commit to Quit’.
“Tobacco use is a major threat to public health globally. Smokeless tobacco users first of all are prone to deadly diseases and early death, secondly users have a tendency to spit in public places, and, therefore, it increases health risks especially by spreading infectious and contagious diseases like COVID-19,” he said.
The Minister also urged all the citizens of the Punjab not to use or spit tobacco in public places as it is prohibited under section 268, 269 and 278 of Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860.
“Punjab Health Department has taken up tobacco control as a flagship program. All the 22 districts in the state have been declared as Tobacco Smoke Free. Total 739 villages have declared themselves Tobacco Free,” he said.
During 2020-2021, 8,177 challans have been issued against the violators under Cigarette and other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 (COTPA, 2003).
Tobacco Cessation centers have been established in all the districts. Free counseling services and cessation medicines like Tab Bupropion, Nicotine gums and patches are being provided in these centers. Total 10,832 Tobacco users have received services at these centers in year 2020-21.