World No Tobacco Day 2006. 
Theme: Tobacco: deadly in any form or disguise

World No Tobacco Day is the only global event established to call attention to the impact of tobacco use on public health and reduce individual tobacco dependence. The purpose of World No Tobacco Day 2006 is to encourage countries and governments to work towards strict regulation of tobacco products, raise awareness on all the different forms of tobacco available under different disguises.

Cancer Patients Aid Association has continually followed the theme of World No Tobacco Day to spread awareness through the masses. Over the years CPAA's awareness and educational programs have reached over 3 million people in India alone. The organization also conducts free awareness lectures & ENT screening camps open to public in the last week of May every year to commemorate World No Tobacco Day. CPAA organised a multi-fold event on 17^th September 2006 at Taj - Lands End, Bandra, Mumbai, to observe & celebrate World No Tobacco Day and to launch National Cancer Rose Day 2006.

The Chief Guest for the day was the honourable Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare - Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss and the guests of honour were Dr. S.J. Habayeb - the WHO Representative to India, the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare - Mrs. Bhavani Thyagrajan, Ms. Vineet Gill the National Professional Officer (Tobacco Free Initiative) from World Health Organisation and Mr. Nitin Nadkarni - Chief Financial Officer of Sony Entertainment Television. 

Ms. Mahima Brownson	Mast. Amey Kamdar	Mast. Ritvik Nautiyal	Mast. Chinmayi Haldankar	Mast. Swapnil Sarkar
St. Paul's Convent High School	Dadar Parsee Youth Assembly High School	Bombay Cambridge High School	St. Paul's Convent High School	St. Francis D' Assisi High School, Borivili

The event lick-started with a Fancy Dress Competition for children betweeen 8-14 years old on the theme ' Tobacco: deadly in any form or disguise'. With an over whelming response from over 250 schools, 40 children were short-listed to perform. Each child outshone the other with his powerful message pertinent to the theme. Our aim through this event was to make the children, parents and schools aware of the harm associated with any use of any tobacco product and of the realities on being exposed to these deadly tobacco products. 

The 2nd part of the program began with a street play by Sutradhar. This entertaining yet thought-provoking play particularly stressed on the evils of tobacco consumption and the unfortunate invasion of cancer into the life of a tobacco habituee, ultimately destroying the peace of his family. The young actors along-with Dr. Ramadoss and the  chairman of CPAA, Mr. Y. K. Sapru took a pledge to accelerate their fight against all tobacco products.

This was followed by the much awaited felicitation ceremony, where eminent celebrity patrons & well-wishers of CPAA were applauded for their wonderful contribution to the growth and success of CPAA. Prominent amongst the celebrities who were felicitated at this function were Mr. Nana Chudasama, Pankaj Udhas, Ila Arun, Lillette Dubey, Piyush Pandey, Prasoon Joshi, Viveik Oberoi, Juhi Chawla, Urmila Matondkar, Smriti Irani, Ruby Bhatia, Madhurima Sonu Nigam. This event was followed by  launch of National Cancer Rose Day 2006, where the honorable Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare , Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss and Dr. S. J. Habeyab presented  roses & gifts  to cancer affected children. Dr. Ramadoss also graciously accepted an appeal from the little kids, requesting him to ban smoking in public places especially restaurants and help them enjoy the outdoors and breathe freely. He in turn assured to make sure that the Central Ministry works in tandem with the State Ministry to ensure strict implementation of the law.

The program ended on a very touching note with a  soulful rendering of "Humko man ki shakti dena" by the patients of the CPAA Rehabilitation Centre. We are thankful to host of the evening Mr. Tarun from Radio Mirchi and to our sponsors Sony Entertainment Television and to our associated sponsors YES Bank, Essar, Mid-day, Ralis India, Kodak, Phillips, BPL, Kesari Tours & Travels & 93.5 Red FM and Taj Lands End.