State-level workshop organized for effective implementation of tobacco control policies

Raipur: The Health and Family Welfare Department convened a state-level workshop on Monday to successfully execute tobacco control policies and programs in the state. A one-day workshop was held at Naveen Vishram Bhawan, Civil Line, Raipur, to teach state-level and district-level nodal officers from the Health Department, Police Department, and School Education Department to make them aware of tobacco addiction. The Health and Family Welfare Department is making ongoing attempts to control tobacco use in the state.

This workshop was arranged with the goal of teaching officials from the Health, Police, and School Education Departments to implement tobacco control policies and programs more effectively in the future and to ensure compliance with the stipulations of the COTPA Act.

Meanwhile, Dr. Kamlesh Jain, the state nodal officer for the National Tobacco Control Program, stated at the session that challan action is used from time to time for tobacco control at the district level. Tobacco de-addiction programs are available in all district hospitals to help people overcome their addiction to tobacco. Despite this, approximately 8% of children between the ages of 13 and 15 in the state have been exposed to tobacco. Tobacco is used by 39.1 percent of the state’s population. To properly combat this, all state educational institutions must be tobacco-free.

Dr. Jain, on the other hand, stated that the Government of India has established recommendations for tobacco-free educational institutions. These criteria must be followed in all of the state’s educational establishments. Other tobacco control initiatives will be implemented in the state through interdepartmental collaboration.

Although, Dr. Trupti Nagariya and senior scientist Dr. Neha Singh of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Raipur, conducted research on the adverse consequences of tobacco usage on pregnant women. According to their findings, 34.3 percent of pregnant women who used tobacco had higher difficulties. In addition, issues such as miscarriage have been recorded in 1.6 per cent of pregnant women.

Meanwhile, Dr. Prabodh Nanda, a representative of the State Health Resource Center, emphasized the role of Mitanins in tobacco control throughout the training. He spoke about the efforts being made in this area by Mitanins in various districts. The Tobacco Monitor app will be launched in the state by ‘The Union and the Pahal Foundation. Ashish Singh of the Pahal Foundation provided thorough information regarding the Tobacco Monitor app throughout the event.