Kerala - Kochi   

World No-Tobacco march organised in city

KOCHI: A World No-Tobacco Day march was organised here on Sunday by the Indian Dental Association’s Kochi branch.

It was flagged off at the DH Ground by K. Narayana Kurup, former Acting Chief Justice of the Chennai High Court. The participants took a pledge to shun tobacco consumption in any form, because of the severe health risks associated with it, said Vinod Mathew, secretary of the Kochi unit.

The IDA also held a painting competition for children, on the anti-tobacco theme, at Oberon Mall. The fun and entertainment programmes organised by IDA for the public included quiz, just-a-minute (JAM). The programme also created awareness on the facts and myths about dentistry and tobacco. V. K. Afsal, Kochi branch president too spoke.

The Cochin Thoracic Society that was formed a year ago has made major plans for the year in its campaign against tobacco. On Sunday, the members of the Society decided to start Smoking Cessation Clinics.

K. M. Ramesh Nair, president of the Society said, “We will counsel them and also give them medication if necessary”, he added.

The Society plans to start an education programme targeting school children, specially addressing classes IX, X, XI and XII. A survey of the school children will also be done to make an assessment of the tobacco use and understanding the issues regarding smoking among children. This would give an idea of tackling the issue and generating awareness in this group, said Dr. Nair.

An audio-visual presentation will be held in schools in the next couple of months, he added.

The second phase of the campaign will be to take up anti-tobacco campaign to the corporate level by holding classes for public sector employees.

The Society also plans to form a volunteer group that will help generate awareness on the subject through various programmes.

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