Ferozepur district to be recognised as smoke-free district in future

Ferozepur, October 22, 2013: A special campaign should be started with the cooperation of health and all other department and local citizens, to make a smoke-free district and for total eradication of use of tobacco, it should be speeded up.  
These views were expressed by Manjit Singh Narang, Deputy Commissioner, Ferozepur while presiding over the District Tobacco Control Committee meeting on Tuesday.
He said, “The anti-tobaco boards should be displayed at government offices, hospitals, dispensaries, panchayat ghar, public places and sub-centres”.
He further said, “In the first week of November, a special team from PGI will survey in the district and after the submission of its report, the district will be recognized as smoke-free district.”  
For the purpose, he appealed to all the NGOs, religious institutions, common people and officials of all the departments, to extend their cooperation in this regard.
Narang said, “We are not to follow the Act till the visit of the PGI team rather it should be made a regular feature in future also”.
He advised all the officials of health department to implement the instructions on the subject in toto and those found violating will face strict action.
Deputy Commissioner said, all the Senior Medical Officers should ensure to display the banners of ‘No smoking’ and ensure the implementation of the Act in letter and spirit. Those found violating the instructions should be challaned and report to this effect should be sent to the Civil Surgeon office on daily basis. They will also ensure that no officer or official of health department is consuming the tobacco directly or indirectly. www.cityairnews.com