Three National Tobacco Testing Laboratories (NTTL) which possess world class facilities to analyze various kinds of tobacco products have now been commissioned
Union health ministry on Friday organized a National Consultation on‘Tobacco and Lung Health’ to commemorate the World No Tobacco Day 2019. Partnering the World Health Organization, the ministry also released Operational Guidelines for National Tobacco Testing Laboratories. Three National Tobacco Testing Laboratories (NTTL) which possess world class facilities to analyze various kinds of tobacco products have now been commissioned.
Inaugurating the function, health secretary Preeti Sudan highlighted the theme of the World No Tobacco Day 2019, the risks associated with tobacco use on people’s lung health, from cancer to chronic respiratory disease. She said that it is important to build a framework that is long term, effective and based on data and evidence.
Dr. V. K. Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog administered the Anti-tobacco pledge to the
participants. Addressing the participants, Sudan emphasized on the need for
community engagement and said that it’s important that people and the families learn how
smoking affects the quality of life. She further said that without community engagement we can’t succeed.
The Health Ministry also felicitated
Government of Rajasthan and Prof. Raj Kumar, Director, V. P. Chest Institute, University of Delhi with ‘World No Tobacco Day Award for 2019’ for their exemplary accomplishments in the area of tobacco control
She said that India has consciously taken up the crusade against Tobacco. The
government has now interventions to address heath conditions arising due to tobacco use.
Speaking at the function, Dr. Paul gave a clarion call for a ‘Jan Andolan’ to address the menace of Tobacco use in all forms. He said this requires behavior change.
He further added that there is an urgent need for creating opportunities for quitting
tobacco by developing a network of thousands of points where people can go and seek help to quit tobacco.
Dr. Henk Bekedam, WHO Representative to India said, “the World No Tobacco Day presents a unique opportunity for all stakeholders to focus on multi-pronged strategies to combat tobacco use. Tobacco control is everybody’s responsibility. Governments, communities, families and individuals must join hands to stay united in the fight against tobacco by choosing health and saying no to all traditional and new forms of tobacco.”
The Health Ministry also felicitated Department of Medical, Health and Family Welfare,
Government of Rajasthan and Prof. Raj Kumar, Director, V. P. Chest Institute, University of Delhi with ‘World No Tobacco Day Award for 2019’ for their exemplary accomplishments in the area of tobacco control.
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