In a collaborative endeavor, the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir (DHSK) together with the District Health Society Kulgam (DHSK) today conduct a comprehensive training session on tobacco control measures at Kulgam. The training aimed to educate the participants about COTPA Act and aware law enforcers and enforcement squads about the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP).
Various stakeholders, including officers and officials from the police, education, health, food and drug administration, municipalities, and other relevant sectors, actively participated in the one-day training cum workshop. The training commenced with an insightful overview of the program by District Health Officer (DHO) Kulgam, Dr. Zahoor Ahmad.
After this a detailed presentation on the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003, and vendor licensing protocols was given by Dr. Mir Mushtaq, Nodal Officer of the Tobacco Control Programme at DHSK. Expert trainers from the Tobacco Control Programme, including Dr Mohd Naser and Er Zakir Hussain, provided in-depth presentations on topics such as Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions (TOFEI), the roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders, and the online resources available for the Tobacco Control Programme in Jammu and Kashmir.
During the session, speakers from the District Health Society, including Dr. Arjumand Rasool and Mussarif Ahmad, shed light on the adverse effects of tobacco products and secondhand smoking, emphasizing the importance of awareness and enforcement.
The event also featured an interactive question-and-answer session moderated by the State Nodal Officer for Tobacco Control Program where experts addressed numerous inquiries related to the Tobacco Control Programme and the COTPA Act.