PGI Celebrates World No Tobacco Day: 2 Reports 'Journey Towards Smoke-Free Punjab' & ' Smoke-Free Compliance Assessment Guidelines' Released

By 1 2 1 News Reporter

Chandigarh 02^nd June:-- School of Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh celebrated World No Tobacco Day on 31st May. In this year, World No Tobacco Day-2014 theme is "RAISE TAXES ON TOBACCO". Principal Secretary Health, Govt. of Punjab was Guest of Honor for the function. She released two reports 'Journey towards smoke-free Punjab' and 'smoke-free Compliance Assessment Guidelines' during the function.

 

Vini Mahajan highlighted the role of School of Public Health in planning and conducting compliance monitoring studies in Punjab. The smoke-free Compliance Assessment Guidelines is the second edition wherein the detailed steps of carrying out compliance studies to declare 'smoke-free jurisdiction' is briefed and was being released on 31st May globally.

 

Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Head, School of Public Health told that every health care provider should inform patient about quitting tobacco. Dr. Rakesh Gupta, State Nodal Officer (Tobacco Control), Punjab spoke about the collective efforts of district administration, health department, and Non-Govt. organizations to make 17 districts as 'smoke-free'.  Dr. Rana J. Singh, Technical Adviser (International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases) told about the tobacco menace in country, while Pranay Lal, Technical Adviser told the importance of raising tax in decreasing tobacco consumption. The certificates to course participants of 'National Workshop on Operational Research' was distributed during the function by Organizing Chairman of the workshop, Dr. Arun K Aggarwal.  Dr. Sonu Goel, Assistant Professor briefed the efforts of School of Public Health in tobacco control in areas of academics, research, capacity building and monitoring.

 

The SIGNATURE CAMPAIGN launched in PGIMER to raise general awareness and demand commitment from society from 26th till 31st May 2014, wherein, a PLEDGE that 'I shall not consume tobacco products and also make aware my peers and family members about harmful effects of tobacco' was concluded with a good response from the public. The big flex banners were displayed at strategic places within PGI like New OPD, Nehru Hospital, Advance Cardiac Centre, School of Public Health and Kairon Block.