KARGIL: The directorate of Health Services Kashmir on Tuesday observed World No Tobacco Day across all hospitals in Kashmir and emphasis was laid on the ill effects of tobacco.
The main function was held by DHSK at UPHC Batamaloo which was inaugurated by Assistant Director Dr Nishat Shaheen and was attended by various officials of the Health Department and Nodal Officers of the Tobacco Control Program.
Speaking at the sensitization program for media, the Assistant Director requested the media person to disseminate information about the ill effects of tobacco on health and environment and help in creating awareness about the tobacco elimination.
Dr Mir Mushtaq presented vote of thanks and conveyed the message of Director Health Services Kashmir Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Rather.
He said the director has appealed all the people across valley to unite together and fight against the tobacco menace in the society.
Quoting the director he said “We all need to join our hands together. People including students, parents, religious leaders, NGOs and law enforcement agencies need to work together in tandem to curb the menace of drug addiction and smoking to a large extent.
The Director in his message appealed the parents to keep an eye on their children and their activities so that they do not indulge in any bad habits and do not fall prey to such habits.
The day was also held in other hospitals of Kashmir during which health care professionals imparted awareness to public about the ill effects of tobacco use and its impact on human health and the environment.
Every year, World No-Tobacco Day is celebrated all over the world in order to aware every one of the ill effects of tobacco consumption, the diseases that are caused by it and urge people to quit the habit through prevention measures.
As per WHO, the consumption of tobacco worldwide has a devastating impact for the environment too. It highlights that it can be linked to large-scale deforestation, and loss of biodiversity, including wildlife. Apart from depletion of the planet’s water, it is also responsible for “exhaustion of fossil fuel and metal resources desertification, depleting soil fertility.”