CUTTACK: Under fire over alarming deterioration of health services and disobedience to the State Health and Family Welfare Department, the Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO), Cuttack, has again come to scrutiny over non-implementation of the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) in the district. Cuttack and Khurda districts were the only two districts to be covered under the Centrally-funded programme in the State. But the inept health administration under the CDMO has ensured that the much needed programme to combat and curb the menace of tobacco consumption and minimise tobacco-related deaths does not budge even an inch. The inefficiency has also come to the notice of the State Health and Family Welfare Department which has served an ultimatum to the CDMO Manorama Dei. It has warned to hold her responsible for the non-functioning of the Tobacco Cell and delay in implementation of the NTCP. Under NTCP, the Centre has provided Rs 6.06 lakh each to Cuttack and Khurda for initiation of sensitisation as well as enforcement of anti-tobacco laws in the districts. The intiatives included formation of district level Tobacco Control Cells under chairmanship of Collector and including Police, experts and stakeholders from the cross section of the society. The activities for tobacco control include training of ASHAs, health workers and women SHGs to create awareness. School interventions are a major part of the programme to sensitise the children, teachers and parents on the ills caused by tobacco and encourage them to join the anti-tobacco campaign. The district health administration in close coordination with police is also to undertake strict enforcement of laws like ban on smoking in public places, sale of tobacco products near schools and other institutions. However, even as the Khurda district has gone ahead with formation of the district cell as well as undertaking activities, the Cuttack CDMO has not stirred. While Khurda has utilised Rs 1.17 lakh of the total granted Rs 6.06 lakh, Cuttack has spent a measly Rs 19,000. “The district cell has been formed this month and we will be accelerating activities now” ADMO (PH) Dr Keshab Kar tried to explain. But given the functioning of the CDMO office, there are not many takers. Even the Health Department in a letter issued to the CDMO Manorama Dei on December 20 has warned that if the grants are not utilised in a proper manner by March 31, 2012, “no more funds will be released in your favour and you will be held responsible for the non-functioning of the Tobacco Cell in your district”.
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