The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Health department focusses on evils of smoking

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 29, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Health department focusses on evils of smoking

Staff Reporter

Schemes for you: A. Sugajamma, Joint Director of Health Services, speaking at a seminar in Pudukottai on Saturday.

PUDUKOTTAI: The Bharat Nirman Public Campaign, organised by the Press Information Bureau and the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, currently on here, has been providing an opportunity for the Central and State government officials to explain the on-going schemes being implemented by their departments.

As a seminar on each department forms part of the campaign, officials deem it a rare opportunity to bring to light the advantages of various schemes.

On Saturday, it was the turn of the Health Department and the officials utilised the opportunity for a definite purpose – to sensitise the masses on the evils of smoking and the provisions of the stringent laws to be in place from October 2.

The Joint Director of Health, A. Sugajamma, spoke on the achievements of ‘Varumun kappoam’ in the district. There has been an overwhelming response to the scheme, with a large number of rural masses undergoing treatment and referral treatment under the programme, she said.

The Deputy Director of Health Services, M. Akila, said that the stringent laws against smoking in public places would attract a fine up to Rs.200. The ban on smoking, to come into force from Gandhi Jayanthi, would be implemented in co-ordination with the service organisations in the district. She also highlighted the achievements of ‘Ilam sirar Irudhaya padhukappu thittam’ in the district.

The Deputy Director of Health (Tuberculosis), S. R. Chandrasekar; the Deputy Director Health, R. Ramamoorthi and the Field Publicity Officer, Thanjavur, Ilangovan were among those who spoke.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu