Patna: Prevalence of tobacco use in Bihar has seen a sharp decline from 53.5 to 25.9 per cent in the last seven years. In fact, Bihar is the second state after Sikkim, which has seen the highest percentage dip in tobacco consumption.

Tobacco consumption in Sikkim came down from 41.6 per cent in 2009-10 to 17.9 per cent in 2016-17. Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi ranked third, fourth and fifth slots vis-a-vis reduction in tobacco consumption.

Nationally, tobacco consumption dipped by just six per cent, from 34.6 per cent in 2009-10 to 28.6 in 2016-17.

This was revealed by the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS)-2, data for which state health minister Mangal Pandey released at Soochna Bhavan on Saturday. GATS is a household survey of persons aged 15 and above conducted in all 30 states and two Union territories. Its first round was conducted in 2009-10 and second one in 2016-17.

While releasing GATS-2 data, the minister said Bihar was heading towards becoming a tobacco-free state.

Asked if the state was planning to bring forth a strict law to restrict tobacco use, Mangal, however, said no harsh laws were going to be brought in for restricting use of tobacco.

"We are going to conduct programmes in schools where we can make students aware about the harmful effects of tobacco. Our focus will be on giving adults and children prime roles in our drive to eradicate tobacco consumption. At the district level, we are going to create raiding teams to enforce Control of Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) and people will be punished for violating the act," Mangal said.

Deworming drive

Is your child complaining of stomach ache? It could be a sign of intestinal worm infection. The state health department is going to conduct mass Albendazole (drug to treat intestinal worm infection) administration drive among those aged 1-19 on February 19 for which 4,362 private schools will be covered.

Around 5.53 crore children will be administered the drug on February 19.