World No Tobacco Day : Tobacco growing, the manufacture of tobacco products have severe environmental consequences, says DGHS

Panchkula, 31 May

Infusing the World Health Organisation (WHO) theme, “Tobacco : Threat to our environment” on the “World No Tobacco Day” today, in the fragile minds of tobacco addicts, Haryana Health Department and National Health Mission, Haryana today celebrated the Day by launching the “World No Tobacco Day 2022, Campaign”.

During the event various speakers shared deep insights on the adverse effects of tobacco consumption not only on health but also on our environment.

 Dr. Veena Singh, Director General Health Services, while inaugurating the Signature Campaign, urged all, especially tobacco users to pledge that they will live a tobacco free life and work for tobacco control. She further added, “Tobacco growing, the manufacture of tobacco products and their delivery to retailers all have severe environmental consequences, including deforestation, the use of fossil fuels and the dumping or leaking of waste products into the natural environment”.

Dr Usha Gupta Additional Director General, Health Services,  said, “In India the tobacco control is administered under the National Tobacco Control Program, which was launched in India in 2008 and in  the State of Haryana in 2012, with merely two districts were under NTCP, namely Ambala and Kurukshetra. Today all 22 districts of Haryana are under NTCP.” “Haryana is committed to tobacco control”, she further added.

Dr Veena Singh, DGHS and Dr Usha Gupta, ADGHS also released balloons that symbolized freedom from tobacco use. To spread awareness an exhibition was also conducted wherein impact of tobacco was depicted on not only human health but also on environment.

Dr Rita Kotwal, Deputy Director, State Nodal Officer National Tobacco Control Programme said as a result of the continuous tobacco control efforts in the state, as per recent Global Youth Tobacco Survey- 4 (2019); Haryana stands 8th among Indian States and Union Territories in least tobacco usage among students aged 13-15 years in India.

The event was attended by 200 participants, including doctors, paramedical from the state, staff members who pledged for tobacco control.