The Health Department has planned to adopt Rangammal Chathiram village, about 10 km from here, to sensitise the residents to the hazards of smoking and consumption of other tobacco products and alcohol.
A decision to this effect was taken at the end of the day-long awareness of International Day Against Drug Abuse, organised under the auspices of the Tamil Nadu Health System Project on Friday. The department has adopted this village as many residents including youth were consuming tobacco and alcohol.
B. Kanchana, staff nurse of Primary Health Centre of Sathyamangalam, said a sustained follow-up on the health condition of all 350 members of the village would be held periodically so that hazards of consumption of alcohol and tobacco could be ascertained.
V. C. Subash Gandhi, coordinator of the Tamil Nadu Health System Project, said a pledge was administered to members on the occasion in which they took a vow not to consume alcohol. Narikuravas discarded tobacco products and liquor bottles. “Initially, it has been planned to adopt the village for a year within which health-related hazards of tobacco and alcohol consumption would be explained to them to bring about a transformation in their lifestyle,” he said.
