Oncologists, cardiologists, researchers, Government, and civil society groups joined forces on World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) today – an annual occasion to drive home the harms of tobacco use and advocate policies to reduce tobacco consumption.
Dr MKC Nair, Vice Chancellor, Kerala University of Health Sciences while inaugurating the event said, “There is undisputable evidence that tobacco use causes cancer. The key is preventing initiation to tobacco products and refraining from developing this bad habit.” He appealed to children to be wary of these products and dissuade family members from its use.
Dr Paul Sebastian, Director, Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) in his presidential address said that developing sensitivities is critical in our society. “There are high levels of knowledge and awareness but people continue to use these products. Tobacco use victims sharing their experiences could be a powerful means of developing sensitivities.”
Dr Sebastian also read out a message from the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Kerala Shri Oommen Chandy.
The theme of WNTD 2015 is “Stop illicit trade of tobacco products”. Dr KR Thankappan, Professor and Head, Achutha Menon Centre for Health Science Studies dealt on the theme as he delivered the keynote address on “Preventing illicit trade through 85 per cent pictorial warnings on all tobacco product packs”.
“Illicit tobacco trade creates huge revenue losses to the Government; during the year 2014-15 the Government lost Rs 2363 crores.” He also spoke about the rampant use of banned tobacco products by migrants in Kerala and called for speedy implementation of 85 per cent pictorial warnings on all tobacco product packs.
Dr N Sreedhar, Director of Health Services highlighted the various tobacco control activities of the Health Services such as making Kerala the first tobacco ad-free state in the country.
Former Secretary of Regional Cancer Association Shri Janardhana Iyer was honoured on the occasion. Shri Renjith Chathoth, Editor, Mathrubhumi Arogyamasika was given away the Best Cancer Awareness article instituted by Regional Cancer Association.
The inaugural session was followed by a panel discussion on ‘Multi-sectoral interventions to counter illicit tobacco trade’ in which representatives of Police, Excise, Health, Food Safety, youth, media and tobacco use victim shared their thoughts. The panel discussion called for de-glamourisation of tobacco use and sustained, proactive and coordinated efforts at various levels.
Shri PV Muralikumar, Joint Excise Commissioner; Dr AS Pradeep Kumar, Retd.Additional Director of Health Services; Shri D Shivakumar, Assistant Food Safety Commissioner; Shri Jawahar Janard, Assistant Commissioner of Police; Shri Rahul Easwar, Kerala Youth Mission Outreach Programme Coordinator; Shri Renjith Chatoth and Shri Jawahar, tobacco use victim were the panellists. Shri Surendran Chunakara, PRO, RCC moderated the session.
Dr Padmalatha, Deputy Director, Public Health, Directorate of Health Services; Dr M Sivaraman, Vice President, Regional Cancer Association; Shri S Jayaraj, State Coordinator, Tobacco Free Kerala; Shri Johnson J Edayaranmula, Director, ADIC-India and Dr R Jayakrishnan, Assistant Professor, RCC also spoke.
Kerala State Health Services; Sree Chitra Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology; Regional Cancer Association; Tobacco Free Kerala; ADIC-India and Kerala Voluntary Health Services (KVHS) partnered with RCC for WNTD 2015.
More than 200 participants including women members of Kudumbashree; Mahila Samakhya; National Savings Department; Student Police Cadets; Health Inspectors and Health Supervisors attached to Directorate of Health Services were present.
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