Imphal, May 31: Two legislators of the state – Health and Family Welfare Minister L Jyentakumar Singh and Parliamentary Secretary (Health and Family Welfare) S. Subashchandra Singh today pledged to give up cigarette in the presence of Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Smt. Anu Priya Patel and Chief Minister N. Biren Singh while speaking on the World No Tobacco Day function held at JNIMS Auditorium today.
These year theme on the observance is “Tobacco – a threat to development” and is jointly organised by the Directorate of Health Services Manipur and SHS, National Health Mission Manipur in collaboration with District Health Society Imphal East and Imphal West.
Chief Minister of Manipur N Biren Singh and Union Minister for State for Health and Family Welfare Minister Anu Priya Patel while appreciating the bold decision of both the Health Minister L Jayentakumar and Parliamentary Secretary S Subashchandra said that along with the decision of the two legislators every one should follow the decision as it is to safe live and money.
Chief Minister N. Birn Singh said that his government will try everything to save the youths of the society from the menace of tobacco. He said the concern government department has been seizing chewing tobacco product as it has been already enforced in the state since 2003 by the government. On the other hand N Biren also said that he will try to band use of cigarette by enacting legislation under COTPA.
The Chief Minister also stated that from July 1 this year, the state government will introduce free diagnosis and treatment for all patients in all government hospitals including JNIMS and RIMS. He said that patient and the patient party will be provided medicines free of cost.
“This is a programme taken up under the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the state government will make the dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi come true in the state of Manipur”, Biren said.
N. Biren further said that equipments required for treatment will ne made available on partnership model with companies. But the charges for treatment will not be from the patient but will be from the hospitals which will be reimbursed later.
Dr. L. SwastiCharan, Chief Medical Officer , National Tobacco Control Programme while delivering key note speech pictured the danger ahead due to use of tobacco products particularly in the state of Manipur. He said modalities for prevention on the use of Tobacco need to be implemented.
Northeast News Agency added
The World No Tobacco Day 2017 was widely observed across the state on Wednesday.
A cycle rally was held here on Wednesday to mark the day. Organised by the Directorate of Health and SHS, National Health Mission, Manipur, the rally was flagged off from the JNIMS auditorium.
RIMS Dental College also observed the World No Tobacco Day, as part of the observance.
India India, tobacco consumption is the highest in the six north-eastern states of Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura and Assam, as per an official data. WNTD 2017 was held under the theme “Tobacco a threat to development.” It proposed measures that governments and public should take to promote health and development by confronting the global tobacco crisis.
