Punjab Government has decided to set up district tobacco control cells and district cessation centres in 12 districts of the State.The announcement was made by the Principal Secretary of the state Departments of Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education Vini Mahajan while presiding over a state level co-ordination committee meeting for effective implementation of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003.
She said, “District tobacco control cell and district cessation center is being established in Bathinda this year under National Tobacco Control Program and in next three years, similar activities will be undertaken in 12 districts.”
Mahajan also pressed for improving the inter-departmental co-ordination for effective implementation of COTPA in the State. “17 districts in the State are declared Tobacco Smoke free and the department is determined to make entire Punjab Tobacco Smoke Free in the next few months,” she said.
Mahajan stated, “In Punjab, about 24 lakh persons above the age of 15 years are tobacco users, out of which one-third of them that is about eight lakh are under threat that they will die of diseases related to tobacco use.”