KMC & MCoDS to Observe ‘World No Tobacco Day’ on 30-31 May
Kasturba Medical College, KMC Hospitals and Manipal College of Dental Sciences to Observe ‘World No Tobacco Day’ on 30-31 May
Mangaluru: The theme for World No Tobacco Day, 31 May 2017, is “Tobacco – a threat to development.” It will propose measures that governments and the public should take to promote health and development by confronting the global tobacco crisis. Commemorating World No Tobacco Day is of special relevance to countries like India. Such activities will increase the awareness about the ill-effects of tobacco in the community. It might strengthen the capabilities of collectively fighting the global tobacco menace. The campaign will demonstrate the threats that the tobacco industry poses to the sustainable development of all countries, including the health and economic well-being of their citizens; and It will propose measures that governments and the public should take to promote health and development by confronting the global tobacco crisis.
Addressing the media persons during a press meet held at Mangalore Press Club, Dr Dilip Nayak- Dean of Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangaluru said, ” District Tobacco Control Cell, District Health & Family Welfare, Dakshina Kannada District, Mangaluru In association with Department of Public Health Dentistry, Kasturba Medical College-Mangaluru; Manipal College of Dental Sciences-Mangaluru and KMC Hospital are jointly organizing various activities related to “World No Tobacco Day 2017″. ImpACT: IMPlementing Activities for Cessation of Tobacco, which is the tobacco cessation centre at the Department of Public Health Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangaluru is also actively involved in these activities.”
“Various diseases and disabilities that result from tobacco use have emerged as one of the crucial public health issues in the world. Global Adult Tobacco Survey conducted by the World Health Organization and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India indicates that more than one third (35%) of adults in India use one or the other form of tobacco. A report on the economic burden of tobacco use in India by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India indicates that total costs attributable to tobacco use in India in 2011 was Rs. 1,04,500 crores. This indicates that the challenges posed by tobacco use in India have to be given very high priority and addressed immediately. “World No Tobacco Day” is commemorated on 31st of May every year all over the world.” added Dr Nayak.
To address various issues related to tobacco use, the organizers have identified an array of activities. A screening program for tobacco use and precancerous and cancerous conditions in the mouth will be organized at Infosys, Mangaluru on 29th May 2017. During this program, check-up will be done for the employees of Infosys and a street play highlighting ill-effects of tobacco will be performed. This might lead to an increase in the awareness of ill-effects of tobacco use among the employees. Intercollegiate competitions including poster, slogan writing, street play and quiz competitions will be organized at Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Attavar campus, Mangaluru on 30th May 2017. The participants will be various medical and dental students from various institutions in and around Mangaluru. This program is aimed at enhancing the interest in anti-tobacco activities among students. This will also generate Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials that can be utilized for various anti-tobacco initiatives.
An anti-tobacco rally is organized on 31st May 2017 from KMC Hospitals, Ambedkar Circle to Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) office, Mangaluru. A total of 200 medical and dental students will participate in this rally which is aimed at increasing the awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco use among the population. At the end of this rally, representatives from Kasturba Medical College, Mangaluru; Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangaluru and KMC Hospitals, Mangaluru will hand over a memorandum to Dr. Ramakrishna Rao, District Health Officer (DHO) Mangaluru.
This event will be graced by Dr. KG Jagadeesha, IAS, District Commissioner; Mallana Gowda Patil, Senior Civil Judge, and Secretary, District Legal Cell Authority; Dr. MR Ravi, Chief Executive Officer, Zilla Panchayat, Mangaluru; Dr. Ramakrishna Rao, District Health Officer (DHO), Mangaluru; Dr. Rajesh BV, District Surveillance Officer, Mangaluru; Dr. Preetha C. Shekar, District Consultant, District Tobacco Control Cell (DTCC), District Health & Family Welfare, Dakshina Kannada. Dr. V Surendra Shetty, Pro Vice Chancellor, Manipal University, Mangalore Campus; Dr. Anand Venugopal, Medical Superintendent, KMC Hospitals, Mangaluru; Dr. M. Venkatraya Prabhu, Dean, KMC, Mangaluru; Dr. Dilip G Nayak, Dean, MCODS, Mangaluru.
Dr G Rajesh- Professor & HOD Public Health Dentistry, MCODS, Mangaluru; Dr Mithun Pai- Associate Professor, Dept. of Public Health Dentistry, MCODS, Mangaluru; Dr Preetha Shekar- District Consultant-Dist. Tobacco Control Cell, Dist. Health and family Welfare-DK, Mangaluru; and Ms Jyothi- Dist. Health Education Officer-DK, Mangaluru were also present during the press meet.