Srinagar: The Directorate of Health Services Kashmir on Tuesday organized a State level Consultation on Health Hazards of Tobacco, Implementation of COPTA-2003 and WHO-FCTC Article 5.3 in relation to Jammu and Kashmir Government policy at Banquet Hall Srinagar.
The workshop was jointly inaugurated by Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr Mushtaq Ahmed Rather and Mission Director National Health Mission (NHM) J&K, Dr Yaseen Choudhary.
Dr Nishat Assistant Director DHSK and in-charge tobacco control program DHS Kashmir presented welcome address.
The workshop focused on the hazardous effects of tobacco on society and stressed on ways and means to fight this menace in society. It was held under the National Tobacco control programme.
On the occasion Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr Mushtaq Ahmed Rather appealed youth to get rid of the menace and help in fighting the same to save the people.
He said we need have a comprehensive strategy so that we can together fight the tobacco menace in the society. The director said the aim of the workshop is tobacco control in light of WHO FCTC Article5.3.
“As we all know the Tobacco is a known health hazard and is responsible for many diseases prevalent in the society particularly various cancers, cardiac diseases and many more,” he said.
Dr Mushtaq said the tobacco usage not only affects health adversely but drains families and communities economically as well.
“In order to save the society from the adverse effects of smoking and tobacco we need to put heads together to frame a strategy which will go a long way in curbing this menace from the society,” he said.
The director said it needs a multi-pronged strategy where we need to utilize services of different individuals, organizations and departments to coordinate and arrive at a comprehensive policy to defeat this grave menace which is slowly going to have very disastrous consequences if we failed to control it
Director NHM, Dr Yaseen Choudhary said spending 600 crore in a year is a staggering figure.
“We need to work hard. It is draining our economy. We need to come up with strategies we need to work to wipeout this menace to save the people,” he said.
On the occasion Dr M Saleem Khan, HOD Community Medicine GMC Srinagar gave a presentation on the health hazardous on tobacco and gave an overview of the current situation of current tobacco usage in Jammu and Kashmir.
Dr Mohd Naseer, State Programme Coordinator BI J&K gave a presentation on introduction to WHOFCTC Article 5.3, Challenges and opportunities in Implementing Article 5.3 and COPTA-2003.
Others who spoke on the occasion include Dr Bashir Ahmad Chalkoo, Deputy Director Directorate of Health Services Kashmir, Dr Ab Rashid Najar, Deputy Director schemes, Dr Tauseef Amin, District Consultant Budgam NTCP.
The vote of thanks was presented by Dr Syma Sidiq, Divisional Coordinator Kashmir BI J&K. Officials of Health Department, Education Department, Food and Safety Department, Transport Department, Tourism, civil society members, people from NGOs also participated in the workshop.
