Karnataka Health Dept. orders immediate ban on trade, consumption of hookah products
Bengaluru: The Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Department on Wednesday issued orders placing a ban on the sale, consumption, advertisement, promotion, collection and trade of all types of hookah products in the state with immediate effect.
According to the department’s release, the ban extends to all hookah products, including tobacco or nicotine-containing hookah, non-nicotine variants, tobacco-free options, flavored and unflavored varieties, molasses, shisha, and similar products under different names.
The order directs action to be taken against violators under various regulations, including Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA)-2003, Child Care and Protection Act, 2015, Food Safety and Quality Act-2006, Karnataka Poisons (Possession and Sale) Rules 2015 and Indian Penal Code and Fire Control and Fire Safety Act.
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Highlighting the consumption of hookah in hotels, bars, and restaurants poses a risk to the safety of food items for public consumption and may have adverse effects on public health, the Department of Health and Family Welfare stated that, in accordance with Article 47 of the Constitution, it is the duty of the state government to protect public health. Subsequently the department ordered the ban in the interest of the people.
COTPA 2003 ಕಾಯ್ದೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಆರೈಕೆ ಮತ್ತು ರಕ್ಷಣೆ ಕಾಯ್ದೆ 2015 ಅಡಿಯಲ್ಲಿ, ರಾಜ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಬಗ್ಗೆಯ ಹುಕ್ಕಾ ಉತ್ಪನ್ನಗಳ ಮಾರಾಟ, ಸೇವನೆ, ಜಾಹೀರಾತು, ಸೇವಿಸಲು ಪ್ರಚೋದನೆ, ಸಂಗ್ರಹಣೆ ನಿಷೇಧಿಸಿ ಆದೇಶ ಹೊರಡಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ.
— K'taka Health Dept (@DHFWKA) February 7, 2024
ಉಲಂಘನೆ ಮಾಡಿದವರ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಕಾನೂನಿನ ಪ್ರಕಾರ ಕಠಿಣ ಕ್ರಮ ಕೈಗೊಳ್ಳಲಾಗುವುದು.#HookahBan pic.twitter.com/8JtRmSr3Dv
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Maharashtra sets up state vaccination task force to strengthen immunisation programme
Mumbai (PTI): The Maharashtra government has set up a State Vaccination Task Force to strengthen the regular immunisation programme and review the progress of related campaigns, a health department official said on Monday.
The State Vaccination Task Force will comprise at least 29 members and will be headed by the administrative head of the health department, he informed.
The government has also constituted separate district-level and municipal vaccination task forces to improve implementation and address challenges at the grassroots level, he said.
Municipal task forces, chaired by respective civic commissioners, have been constituted in view of the vast urban population in Maharashtra and the role of civic bodies in implementing different health programmes.
The district-level task forces will function under the chairmanship of collectors.
"Complete immunisation of children at the appropriate age is an extremely simple, cost-effective and highly effective measure to reduce child mortality and the prevalence of diseases among kids. Immunisation is a powerful tool for reducing illness in children," maintained the official.
To ensure full vaccination of all children, the state government implements various campaigns from time to time as per the central government guidelines, he pointed out.
"Active participation and cooperation of other relevant government departments are essential (in making these campaigns successful)," according to the official.
The state-level body will review the regular immunisation programme, associated campaigns and vaccine-preventable diseases in detail. It will also conduct focused assessments of high-risk districts and municipal corporations, including vacancies at district, municipal and sub-district levels, availability of cold chain equipment, resource gaps and training requirements, he noted.
The state task force will review allocation and utilisation of funds for immunisation and ensure timely action by officers concerned based on reports from district and municipal task forces and state-level monitoring mechanisms, the official said.
It will also ensure active coordination and participation of other government departments in immunisation drives, while district and municipal task forces will carry out similar functions at their respective levels, the official added.
