A Shajahan |
Tobacco Free Kerala organised a tobacco control sensitisation programme for education officials of Kerala at Al-Saj Convention Centre, Kazhoottam, Trivandrum on February 7, 2013.
The sensitization programme was done during a capacity-building exercise for Education Department Officials conducted by the National University of Educational Planning and Administration.
In his opening remarks, Director of Public Instruction Shri A Shajahan said that the State Government gives great thrust to the tobacco free campaign. The objective of the Government is to create tobacco free.
Dr
AS Pradeep Kumar, Addl. Director of Health Services, Government of Kerala gave
a detailed presentation on COTPA Act, 2003 and its implementation in schools. He
dealt at length about Sec 4 and Sec 6 (b) and the statutory boards to be insalled in schools as mandated under the
law.
Dr Paul Sebastian |
Dr
Paul Sebastian, Director RCC and Vice Chairman, TFK talked about the health hazards
caused by the use of tobacco products. He used images of patients affected with
cancers of oral cavity to drive home the harmful impacts of tobacco use.
Dr Sebastian also showed videos of two tobacco victims – one an elderly man and another a
young man – both of whom had lost out on precious productive years and had to
face the trauma of cancers.
Irinjalakuda DEO Shri CC Jacob described the efforts taken to make Irinijalakuda educational district tobacco free. He pointed out that this was possible due to collective efforts by all including school administrations, police, parents and public.