Jump to full article: Sify.com (in), 2010-03-20
Intro: Over two million pregnant women in India consume tobacco products, a shocking figure revealed by the Indian health ministry Saturday.
'It is shocking that over 8.5 percent of the ante-natal mothers in India are tobacco users,' said Jagdish Kaur, in-charge of the tobacco control programme in the health ministry.
She said though the number of tobacco users are mostly men, yet the number is too big, especially for the pregnant women.
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Jagdish Kaur said that though the government has taken several steps in curbing the use of tobacco, 'cessation is the most neglected part'.
She said there are 61 tobacco cessation centres (TCC) in India, directly under the supervision of the government but more needs to be done. 'The most important thing is awareness and community participation against this.'
'Smoking should be made unfashionable. This can reduce the number of smokers definitely,' R.P. Vashisht, head of the smoke free Delhi initiative of the government said at a function organised by Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and the pharma company Pfizer.
Speaking at the occasion, WHO technical officer (tobacco control) Dhirendra Sinha said in the south-east Asia, comprising of 11 countries including India, tobacco is a major threat to life.
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