Tobacco is a huge risk factor for top leading causes of death in Lucknow including cardiovascular (heart) diseases and cancers, said Professor (Dr) Rama Kant, World Health Organization (WHO) International Awardee 2005 and President of Lucknow College of Surgeons that had organized a comprehensive public symposium to mark World No Tobacco Day at SIPS Super-Speciality Hospital, Chowk. Former Prohibtion Minister of Uttar Pradesh Government Shri Surya Pratap Shahi inaugurated the programme on comprehensive tobacco control featuring films, poster exhibition by city youth, slide-shows, theatre/ skits, and informative presentations centred around the theme of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). FCTC is the global tobacco treaty.
Dr Shobha Shukla from Loreto Convent, Magsaysay Awardee Dr Sandeep Pandey, Professor (Dr) KM Singh, first Vice Chancellor of CSMMU, Dr Vinod Jain, Secretary Lucknow College of Surgeons, Dr Nishi Pandey from Lucknow University, Dr Raj Kumar Mishra, Managing Director of SIPS Super-Speciality Hospital, Mr AK Goel, Principal, Dabble College, Dr Veena Sharma, Principal, Arvind Academy, Dr Neera Shukla, Loreto Convent, Dr Geeta Dayal from Navayuga Schools, Dr Sandip Tiwari from Surgery Dept, CSMMU, were some of the key people present on the occasion.
Professor (Dr) Rama Kant, President-elect of Association of Surgeons of India (ASI) 2012 said that the core demand reduction provisions in the WHO FCTC are covered in Articles 6-14, addressing protection from exposure to tobacco smoke, regulation of the contents of tobacco products, regulation of tobacco product disclosures, packaging and labelling of tobacco products, education, communication, training and public awareness, tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, demand reduction measures concerning tobacco dependence and cessation, illicit trade in tobacco products, sales to and by minors, provision of support for economically viable alternative activities, among others.
Brahmakumari Swarnalata gave counselling on leading an addiction free and health life.
A Report Card on Implementation of Tobacco Control Laws in Lucknow prepared by nine youth was also released. These youngsters –Sachidanand, Jatin, Sarvesh, Dileep, Nadeem, Anand, Astha, Ritesh and Rahul selected few salient features of The Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003, to conduct a reality check on their level of implementation in Lucknow.
This event was organized in collaboration with Lucknow College of Surgeons, SIPS Super-Speciality Hospital, Bharat Vikas Parishad, Indian Society Against Smoking (ISAS), Abhinav Bharat Foundation, Citizens for Healthy Lucknow campaign, Asha Parivar and CNS.
