THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
The body working in the field of making Goa tobacco free has appealed with the implementation agencies to at least do strong implementation COTPA act in the vicinity of schools so that the younger generation can be kept out of the addiction of smoking.
The National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE) chairman Dr Shekhar Salkar in a function at 3rd Goa anti-tobacco national film festival 2019 organised on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day day made this appeal.
Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2 (GATS 2) released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) in the year 2017, shows 9.7 % per cent of adults in Goa consume tobacco in some form or the other.
“Study has shown that only 30 percent of persons addicted to smoking are able to leave smoking. Rest 70 per cent continue to smoke till death. So enforcement agencies should be carefull around school areas to implement COTPA act”, said Dr Salkar while speaking at the function.
Attempts should be made to keep people away from smoking, said Dr Salkar.
e-cigarette addiction is now a major concern which is increasing in the society, he added.
Prizes to the best anti-tobacco add films were distributed in the function held at Maquinize plaza.
Finance secretary Daulat Hawaldar, Dean of Goa dental college Dr Ida Ataide were present on the occasion.
Meanwhile, In another function Manipal Hospitals NGO’s and Citizens Urged Government of Goa for banning of E Cigarette in Goa with immediate effect to Protect Public Health.
Study Found 85% Tobacco Vendors in Goa Selling Toffee, Chips Etc. along with Tobacco Products to lure youngsters
NOTE on Friday organised a conference to discuss the implementation of Government of Goa’s policy on mandating licensing for vendors who sell tobacco products.
Earlier The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, on dated 21st September 2017 and Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation on Sept. 28, 2018, issued advisories to all states for ensuring licensing mechanism for tobacco vendors with a restriction on the sale of candy, chips etc. which are mainly used to attract kids and youngsters to tobacco shops.
On February 11, 2019, the Department of Urban Development of Goa issued a circular directing all urban local bodies in Goa to develop regulate and retail shops selling eatable products.
Dr.Amita Kenkre Kamat Chief of Community Dentistry Department at Goa Dental College spoke of the extreme difficulty that a patient experience in withdrawing from tobacco consumption and said that therefore it is best not to even start tobacco use.
Dr. Shekhar Salkar Lectured on E-Cigarettes, Dr. Eugene Rent spoke on the Ill effects of Tobacco Consumption and Dr. Sanyal of Consumer VOICE spoken on Vendor Licensing.
Around 21 Sub Inspectors from Goa Police, 11 Municipal Inspectors from the Directorate of Municipal Administration, 4 Inspectors from the Department of Food and Drugs Administration, Goa Dental College, IMA Goa State, parents and NGO’s attended the function. Towards the end of the seminar, a resolution was passed to take up with the Chief Minister of Goa urging the immediate ban of E-Cigarettes in the State of Goa.
