DLCC meeting on enforcement of COTPA held
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIO
Kakching, January 24 2023:
A District Level Co-ordination Committee meeting on Enforcement of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Com merce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 (COPTA) was held on Tuesday at NIC conference hall, here.
Kakching chief medical officer Dr Thaodem Rajen Singh chaired the meeting during which National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), Kakching district nodal officer Dr Sanasam Jupitar informed that Manipur has a record of 58.1 per cent tobacco users out of its total population.
While recounting that the central government launched the National Tobacco Control Programme in 2007-08, he said aim of the national programme is to create awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco consumption, reduce production and supply of tobacco products, ensure effective implementation of the provisions under COTPA 2003, help the people quit tobacco use and facilitate implementation of strategies for prevention and control of tobacco as advocated by WHO Framework Con vention of Tobacco Control.
Jupitar also made a power point presentation on National Tobacco Control programme activities.
Mention may be made nearly 8 lakh Indians die from tobacco use every year, which is more than those killed by AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined.
More than 2200 Indians die every day due to tobacco use, 40 out of 100 cancer cases in India are tobacco-related and nearly 95 per cent of all oral cancers occur among tobacco users.
Tobacco use also causes stroke, heart attack, lung disease, blindness and other illness.
The main thrust areas discussed of the meeting included training of health and social workers, NGOs, school teachers and enforcement officers.
In formation, education and communication activities, school programmes, monitoring of tobacco control laws, coordination with Panchayati Raj Institu tions for village level activities and setting up and strengthening of cessation facilities including provision of pharmacological treatment facilities at district level.
The meeting was attended by Kakching additional SP, Kakching ZEQ, designated officer, food safety, district programme manager and DIO among others.