Expressing concern on the trend of smoking among youth, Minister for Health and Medical Education, Dr. Davinder Kumar Manyal today said that smoking puts individual at multiple health risks and it not only affects active smokers but passive smokers are equally affected.Dr. Manyal was speaking at an event on World No Tobacco Day organized by State Health and Medical Education Department and JK Voluntary Health Association, here today.The Minister said that there is a need for public awareness and community engagement to highlight the ill-effects of smoking. “So, it is moral and social responsibility of everyone to spread the message in the society,” he added.This year the theme of the World No Tobacco Day is “Tobacco and heart disease." On the occasion, Dr. Manyal called for concerted efforts to sensitize people about the disastrous effects of tobacco consumption.The Minister said that tobacco has been clinically proved as the main cause of cancer which affects millions across the world, adding tobacco is considered as one of the major threat to public health in 21st century, Manyal said that print and electronic media can play a major role in curbing the consumption of tobacco among youth.
During the function, GATS-2 (Global Adult Tobacco Survey) Fact Sheet, Jammu and Kashmir, 2016-17 was released- a global standard for systematic monitoring of adult tobacco use both smoking and smokeless.At the end of the function, a power point presentation was shown on the use of Tobacco among youth in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.Principal Secretary Health and Medical Education, Dr. Pawan Kotwal, Director General Health Services, Kashmir Dr. Saleem ur Rehman, Principal Government Medical College, Srinagar Dr. Saima Rashid, Mission Director National Health Mission, Dr. Yashpal Sharma, Drug Controller J&K, Nazir Ahmed, Executive Director J&K Voluntary Health Association A.M.Mir (IAS Retd), Project Director J&K State Aids Control Organisation, Dr. Mushtaq Ahmed, Director Family Welfare Dr. Samir Mattoo, State Nodal Officer FW, Former Principal GMC and renowned Physician, Dr. GQ Allaqaband, Dean Tata Institute of Social Sciences Mumbai, Dr. T. Sundaraman, Director, Disaster Management Aamir Ali, various NGOs and other senior officers from various Departments were present on the occasion.