Nagar Kurnool:
Nagar Kurnool District Additional Collectors K Sitarama Rao and Deva Sahayam have urged officials to educate the public about the severe health risks caused by tobacco consumption. During a district task force meeting on the national tobacco control programme, they highlighted the dangers of smoking and its harmful effects.
Sitarama Rao explained that smoking can lead to life-threatening diseases, including lung cancer and various other cancers such as those of the mouth, nose, throat, pancreas, kidneys, and stomach. He stressed the importance of medical and health departments in spreading awareness about these risks. Rao also pointed out that smoking not only harms the person who smokes but can also endanger the health of others nearby, increasing their chances of developing cancer and lung diseases.
He further emphasized the need for strict monitoring in schools to prevent the sale of tobacco products to children. Additionally, there should be increased surveillance at bus stations and other public areas to stop smoking in these spaces.
Rao urged officials to conduct village-level meetings to educate the public about the dangers of smoking. He also said that anyone caught selling tobacco should be fined. He directed District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) Swarajyalakshmi to inform women’s groups about the harmful effects of smoking.
The Additional Collectors instructed officials from all relevant departments to strictly enforce the ban on tobacco and work towards making the district a smoke-free zone. The meeting was attended by many officials, including DMHO Dr. Swarajyalakshmi, DRDA PD ChinnaObulesh, DPO Rammohan Rao, education officials, lecturers, and other health department staff.
