City Police organise workshop on 'Mission Smoke Free Hyderabad'

Hyderabad: A two days workshop was organized by the department of city police Hyderabad for capacity building of Police officials (Law enforcers) under Mission Smoke Free Hyderabad. This was supported by Department of Health and Family welfare, Govt. of Telangana and International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, New Delhi.

Commissioner of Police Anjani Kumar jointly inaugurated the workshop with Deputy Commissioner of police, Director of Public Health and family welfare and Technical advisor from The Union, New Delhi. Commissioner addressed the officials and said that Hyderabad is organizing 50th World Lung Conference on Lung Health from 30 October to 2 November, the first time India has held the conference in its current format. In 2017, nearly 410,000 people died from TB in India. Telangana State reported 45,160 new cases of TB, with 30 percent of the total accounted for in the Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts.

The theme of conference resonates strongly with TB, but it also raises the serious concern with tobacco use as research says that 40% tobacco users are vulnerable towards TB infection– these are considered health emergencies. Some 6000 delegates from 130 countries are expected to attend the conference at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre, making it the largest international health conference ever to be held in Hyderabad.

This is an opportunity and will be a matter of pride not only for Hyderabad but also for Telangana and India to welcome the global community in 'Smoke Free Hyderabad City'. All the stakeholders (Government and Private) need to join hands and work hard under the leadership of Directorate of Health and Family Welfare to work hard and declare the city smoke free before commencement of 50th Union World Conference as per the provisions of the law (Cigarette and Other Tobacco Product Act- 2003).

He added that Police officials' role has become crucial at the front of law enforcement not only in law and order related issues but also for social and noble cause by making healthy and safe society. He specially emphasized the role of media as media has reach to the mass which can circulate this message to thousands of people. Media's role is inevitable which is very much required to aware the mass along with constructive challaning and enforcement of law provisions. Deputy Commissioner also addressed the audience and made some good examples of police participation in noble cause.

Director Public Health and Family welfare said on this occasion that world is observing World No Tobacco day week hence, series of activities are planned but action oriented planning in time bound manner should be implemented for making city Smoke Free, he added that Department of Health is a nodal agency but the accomplishment of mission Smoke Free Hyderabad require strong networking and regular monitoring of all the stakeholders.

The Technical Advisor from the Union sensitized the audience by showing some videos and presented the plan of action and explained about the law provisions of Cigarette and other Tobacco product Act-2003, specially section 4 to protect the non smokers from second hand smoke by making public places smoke free and section 6B for making all educational institution tobacco free. As per the current GATS data of 2016-17 currently 15.9 % adults are smoking in Telangana and25.9% of men, 9.8% of women and 17.8% of all adults either smoke tobacco and/ or use smokeless tobacco. Khaini and bidi are the two most commonly used tobacco product. The mean age at initiation of tobacco use is 19.9 years.

Around 180 police officers participated in the workshop.

Addl DCP Ms Sunitha Reddy summarised the workshop agenda and asked all the officials to work with full enthusiasm to get the high compliance of Section (4) and section 6 B of the 'Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003' prohibits smoking in public places and tobacco sale in and outside the school premises. Any violation of this act is a punishable offence with fine up to Rs.200. 'Public Place' as defined in the Act. She has made it clear that fortnightly review of compliance along with other initiatives with community support need to be established to achieve this target.