ITANAGAR, Feb 01, 2010: To sensitize several law enforcement officers and 400 Jawans at the 3rd India Reserve Battalion (IRBN) Headquarters; the Itanagar Press Club (IPC), the Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI) and the Arunachal Pradesh State AIDS Control Society (APSACS) organized a programme for capacity building of law enforcement officers and police personnel on lifestyle-related diseases and Tobacco Control Act. Dr Lobsang Jampa, state epidemiologist and Dr S, Tsering, radiation oncologist, Arunachal State Hospital, gave clear picture on how tobacco consumption has been claiming around 8 lakh lives yearly in India. Cigarette or bidi smoke contains around 4,000 poisons, of which 40 are cancer agents, they said, and cautioned that such consumption would reduce the life span of human-being as it causes numerous diseases.

APSACS project director Dr Emi Rumi left an indelible mark on the participants with grotesque photographs of sexual organs deformed by sexually transmitted diseases. He advised them to always remember that their good and safe health is their assets.

A Jawan salutes with his cap. If you want to have sex please go ahead with a cap (condom), Dr Jampa advised, to the thunderous laughter of all present. The APSACS and VHAI Project Khusi also made available condoms freely at the venue. “The nation will remain safe if the jawans are safe and healthy”, said DIGP (training) Robin Hibu to energize the jawans. “You all are most of the time exposed to unsafe lifestyle, sexual behaviour, tempted to smoking and various tobacco products,” he said and cited an example that if a jawan spends Rs 60 a day on smoking or other tobacco-product he would be spending around Rs 6.7 lakh in his 30–year career, which otherwise he could have saved and used for good purposes. Anyone quitting tobacco consumption will be rewarded, Hibu announced to the gathering. Moreover, DIGP also thanked the organisers and mentioned that this training would be quite helpful for the common people too, as it paves the way to effectively enforce the tobacco control act by the officers and police personnel.

If I could quit smoking after 60 years and become stronger, why not you?- The question raised by Dr LR Choudhury of RK Mission Hospital evoked a thunderous applause, perhaps a sign of approval by the smokers among the participants. To another query why the government does not ban the production of such harmful products, doctors replied that the pro-tobacco industry lobby was dragged on the ban of production.

VHAI senior manager Ajay Tripathy, while speaking on tobacco control law, COTPA, and its rampant violation, called for strict implementation of smoking-ban in public places and sale of tobacco products to those below 18 years of age in the state, particularly Capital Complex. IPC president Pradep Kumar assured to institutionalize the programme and conduct it in all IRBN HQs besides helping in forming training modules for the Police Training College, Banderdewa in association with VHAI and APSACS. Commandant of 3rd IRBN Babu Taloh assured that he is hopeful of the Jawans following the health tips given on the occasion. Henceforth, all the officers and Jawans would help ensure the strict enforcement of tobacco control act, he mentioned.

Hundred of jawans underwent voluntary blood testing for HIV, which was arranged by the RKM Hospital unit on behalf of the APSACS and VHAI Project Khusi.