Agencies, Hyderabad

A two-day workshop was organised by the department of city police Hyderabad for capacity building of Police officials (Law enforcers) under mission ‘smoke free Hyderabad’.

This was supported by Department of Health and Family welfare, Govt of Telangana and International Union against Tuberculosis and lung disease, New Delhi.

Hyderabad City Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar, who inaugurated the workshop said that Hyderabad is organizing 50th World Lung Conference on Lung Health from October 30 to November 2 and for the first time India is hosting the conference.

In 2017, 410,000 people died from TB in India. Telangana reported 45,160 new cases of TB, with 30 percent of the total accounted for in the Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts. The theme
of conference resonates strongly with TB, but it also raises the serious concern with tobacco use as a research says that 40 per cent tobacco users are vulnerable towards TB infection.

About 6000 delegates from 130 countries were expected to attend the conference at the Hyderabad
International Convention Centre (HICC) , making it the largest international health conference ever to be held in the city.

This is an opportunity and will be a matter of pride not only for Hyderabad but also for Telangana and India to welcome the global community in “Smoke Free Hyderabad City”.
All the stakeholders (Government and Private) need to join hands and work hard under the leadership of Directorate of Health and Family Welfare to work hard and declare the city smoke free before commencement of 50th Union World Conference as per the provisions of the law (Cigarette and Other Tobacco Product Act- 2003), he said.

Mr Kumar further said that Police officials role has become crucial at the front of law enforcement not only in law and order related issues but also for social and noble cause by making healthy and safe society.
He specially emphasised the role of media as media has reach to the mass which can circulate this message to thousands of people.

Media’s role is inevitable which is very much required to aware the mass along with constructive challenging and enforcement of law provisions, he added.