Nabarangpur, Nov 11 (UDN): With the objective of protecting the younger generation from the harmful effects of tobacco consumption and building a healthy, tobacco-free society, the District Health Society, Nabarangpur, today launched the ‘Tobacco-Free Campaign 4.0 for Youth’ through a district-level programme.
The programme was organised with a special focus on creating awareness among students and young people about the serious health consequences of tobacco consumption and encouraging them to adopt a healthy and tobacco-free lifestyle.
The district-level inaugural programme was chaired by Additional District Magistrate (Revenue) Shri Biswajit Barman. On the occasion, he administered the tobacco-free society pledge to all the officers and staff members present and formally inaugurated the campaign. He emphasised the importance of collective efforts and active participation from all departments to achieve the objective of making society free from tobacco consumption.
Among those present at the programme were In-charge Chief District Medical and Public Health Officer Dr. Malay Pradhan, ADPHO (FW) Dr. Malay Tripathy, DMO Dr. Sukanta Chandra Satapathy, District Social Welfare Officer, District Programme Manager Shri Shankar Acharya and DMRC H Shri Manas Kumar Panda. Besides, superintendents of all Community Health Centres across the district, Child Development Project Officers (CDPOs), Public Health Extension Officers (PHEOs) and Block Programme Managers (BPMs) also participated in the programme.
During the event, the participating officials highlighted the aims and objectives of the campaign and stressed the need for coordinated efforts and effective implementation of various awareness activities to ensure its success across the district.
Speaking about the serious health consequences of tobacco consumption, the officials highlighted that tobacco use is a major public health concern and increases the risk of several life-threatening diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory illnesses and other non-communicable diseases. Tobacco smoke contains thousands of harmful chemical substances, many of which are known to cause cancer.
It was also emphasised that the harmful effects of tobacco are not restricted to those who consume it directly. People exposed to second-hand smoke are equally at risk of suffering from various health complications. Therefore, creating awareness about the dangers of both direct tobacco consumption and passive smoking is essential for protecting public health.
The two-month-long campaign will primarily focus on educating students and young people about the dangers of tobacco consumption and its adverse effects on physical health. Special emphasis will be placed on preventing young people from initiating tobacco use, motivating existing tobacco users to quit the habit and encouraging them to seek professional guidance and assistance from nearby health facilities whenever required.
As part of the campaign, a series of health-related activities and awareness programmes will be organised at all Community Health Centres (CHCs), Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs across Nabarangpur district. These initiatives will include health check-ups and various awareness-building activities aimed at reaching students, youth and members of the general public.
Through these grassroots-level interventions, the district health administration intends to encourage people to stay away from tobacco products, adopt healthier lifestyles and actively contribute towards creating a tobacco-free environment in their respective communities.
The campaign will also seek to strengthen public participation and interdepartmental coordination to ensure that awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco reaches every section of society, particularly school-going children and young people who are more vulnerable to developing tobacco-related habits.
The programme was efficiently coordinated by ADPHCO Shri Ramahari Panda and AM-NCD Shri Tarun Kumar Sahu.
The launch of Tobacco-Free Campaign 4.0 marks an important district-level initiative towards safeguarding the health of the younger generation, preventing tobacco addiction and promoting a healthier future for the people of Nabarangpur district.
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