Jaipur . The Central Government has asked the States/UTs to conduct special campaigns on the lines of the Government of Rajasthan and follow the ‘Rajasthan Model’ for tobacco control.
State Health Minister Parsadi Lal Meena said that on the instructions of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, a 100-day special campaign was started in February 2022, which will culminate on May 31, the World No Tobacco Day. Health is the top priority of the Government of Rajasthan and it is a matter of pride that the Center has appreciated the ‘Rajasthan Model’ in tobacco control.
Health Secretary Dr Prithvi said that the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has written a letter on May 18, 2022 to all senior officers of health departments across the country asking them to conduct special drives in all States/UTs. Provisions of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act 2003 (COTPA 2003), as done in Rajasthan. Such a campaign can be planned on WNTD or launched on WNTD.
Dr SN Dholpuria, Joint Director, Health Department, National Tobacco Control Program (NTCP) and Nodal Officer said that the consumption of tobacco in the state has come down by about 8 per cent.
According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5 (2019-21), the number of men using any form of tobacco (15 years and above) is 42 percent, while in NFHS-4 (2015-16) it is 46.9. was the percentage. He said that the state level program would be organized jointly by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Health Department at Birla Auditorium on WNTD on May 31.
In this 100 day special campaign, various awareness programs on tobacco control are being organized from village to state level. Debate, painting and other competitions were held in schools in villages across the state, then the winners at the village level would compete at the block level and the winners at the block level would compete at the district level and the winners at the district level would compete at the state level on 21st May.
The final winners will be felicitated on May 31 at a state level function. On May 1, more than 9.83 lakh people were punished by running a mega campaign against those using tobacco products in public places across the state on the instructions of the Health Minister.
Dr Dholpuria said, signs were put up in medical institutions and committees were formed to check tobacco use, people are being made aware about the ill effects of tobacco consumption and fines have been imposed under COTPA, 2003. The Education Department is trying to certify all the educational institutions as tobacco free. Village Health, Sanitation and Nutrition Committees (VHSNCs) are taking out rallies and writing slogans in their respective villages as well as creating awareness about the ill effects of tobacco consumption. The best performer will be awarded at the state level function.
NTCP nodal officer informed that Health Minister Meena has written to all the elected representatives across the state to participate in the meetings and awareness programs in their respective areas and to motivate people to stay away from tobacco. .
Rajasthan has performed very well in the field of tobacco control. The Health Department of Rajasthan was selected by the World Health Organization for the ‘World No Tobacco Day Aware for 2019’ for its contribution to tobacco control. The health department of Rajasthan was one of two in India in the Southeast Asian region.
—AnyTV News
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