|
 World
No Tobacco Day 2007
Theme:
Smoke Free Environment
Tobacco is the second major cause of death in the
world. It is well known that half the people who smoke regularly
today – about 650 million people – will eventually be killed by
tobacco. Equally alarming is the fact that hundreds of thousands of
people who have never smoked die each year from diseases caused by
breathing second-hand tobacco smoke.
Every year we observe
World No Tobacco Day, which is the only global event established to
call attention to the impact of tobacco use on public health and
reduce individual tobacco dependence. This year the theme for World
No Tobacco Day as proposed by World Health Organization globally is
“Smoke Free Environment”.
Taking the theme forward
CPAA organised a series of events to commemorate this day with a
view to make people aware of their right to clean air, free
from tobacco smoke. This year too the Ministry of Health & Family
Welfare and the World Health Organization supported us in this endeavour.
Through these programs we were able to appeal to people to create a smoke-free
environment which would not only help smokers who want to quit
with a strong incentive to cut down or stop smoking altogether but
also help prevent people – especially the young – from starting
to smoke.
The major events
held during the World No Tobacco Day week were as follows. It is
noteworthy to say that we received an overwhelming response
from the media (print and electronic) who covered our events
extensively. Their support has been most encouraging and helps us to
reach people far and wide.
| Free
Cancer Awareness and Screening (ENT) Camps |
| These
camps were held at key locations in the Mumbai viz.- BEST (Wadala),
Dadar Railway Station for railway loaders and track workers,
Naigaon Police Headquarters for the policemen and their
families, Police Club for Police officers. The Police camp was
inaugurated by the Commissioner of Mumbai Police D. N.
Jadhav along with Joint Commissioner Subhash Awate and actor Jackie
Shroff at the Mumbai Police Club. Through their address
they encouraged the police personnel to quit their tobacco
habits. They were also persuaded to take up sports and yoga
as a stress-buster for their extremely hectic work schedules.
A massive open house camp was held at the Hutatma Chowk (Flora
Fountain) car parking lot on 31st May - World No Tobacco Day
for the general public.
Over 1000
people were screened at these camps out of which 49% of the people were
advised follow up screening at our clinics, 2% of the people
were advised Biopsy and their cases were forwarded to the
Preventive Oncology Department at Tata Memorial Hospital, 35
cases of Sub Mucosal Fibrosis were detected and advised
a follow up check-up after 3 months at our clinics. 125
people were put on a 6-month follow up program for the patches
(Leukoplakia, Melanoplakia, Erythroplakia) in their Buccal
Mucosa and 272 were put on a annual follow up for their strong
tobacco habits. |
| 'No
Smoking' - Press Conference |
| A
Press Conference was held at Taj Lands End, Bandra on 26th May
2007 to commemorate World No Tobacco Day. CPAA Founder
Chairman and CEO, Mr. Y. K. Sapru along with Ms. Bhavani
Thyagarajan -Joint Secretary (Health) and Ms. Paramita
Sudharto - Public Health Administrator (WHO) felicitated actor
John Abraham, Producer Mr. Kumar Mangat & director Mr.
Anurag Kashyap for their hard-hitting movie 'No Smoking'. They
shared their experience in making the movie
and pledged their support to our cause. Actors Milind Soman
and Dino Morea and singer Dr. Palash Sen of Euphoria - the
Indian Rock band were also felicitated at this occasion for
their work and support in tobacco control. Also present on
this occasion was Director General of Police, Dr. P S Pasricha,
who spoke about the power of media in creating awareness about
the ill-effects of tobacco. Three of our larynx cancer
patients were presented with Provox Boxes II which would now
enable them to speak again. |
| Euphoria
Rock Concert |
|
Euphoria the Indian Rock
Band rocked the city at Rang Sharda, Bandra on 26th May 2007. The
show, especially aimed at the youth was successful in the spreading
the message that 'Tobacco Kills !'. The event was
inaugurated by actor Dino Morea who addressed the scores of school
and college students present about the harmful effects of smoking.
Actors Shilpa Agnihotri and Shama
Sikander too graced the event with their presence and
immediately connected with the audience encouraging them to stay
aware from this deadly vice. Palash Sen sang some specially penned
songs for the occasion.
Our sponsors for
this event were Radio Mirchi, SMC – Investment Solutions & Services,
King Fisher Airlines, Essar, Radio City, Taj Lands End-Mumbai, Midday
& Rang Sharda Hotel. |
|
| Drawing
competition |
| Taking
forward the World No Tobacco Day theme we invited over 100
city kids to participate in a drawing competition on the topic
'A Smoke-free Environment'. The event was co-hosted by Lotus
Suites Ecotel, Mumbai. The children painted the canvases with
beautiful and eclectic colours portraying their ideas of a A
Smoke-free Environment, based on varied topic like global
warming, tobacco, smoking etc. Renowned artists Hema Joshi,
Ruxana Pathan and Mr.C. S. Oza judged the paintings for ingenuity
and creativity, while actress Sonali Kulkarni and Nitu Chandra
encouraged and cheered the kids. The top 12 drawing will be a
part of a 2008 calendar.
As a part of the World No
Tobacco Day celebrations, Mrs. Neeta More, Director -
Prevention & Early Detection was invited for popular
talk show "Hello Sakhi" on Doordarshan's Sahyadri
channel to speak on the topic 'Tobacco Free Campaigns'. |
| Human
Chain |
| CPAA
staff volunteers and social workers co-organised and
participated in a ‘Human Chain’ at Marine Drive, Mumbai on
31st May. The human chain, displayed banners,
posters, holders with anti tobacco messages. Members and
volunteers of the Rotract Club of South Hill, R. P. Ruia
Trust, Jeeven Jyoth Trust and Marwadi Sammalan Trust joined
hands with CPAA for this event.
|
| |
|
