As part of observing the World No Tobacco Day on May 31, the Kollam chapter of the Indian Dental Association (IDA) together with the Meditrina Hospital is organising a rally here in the evening on Sunday to create awareness against the use of tobacco.
The rally to be flagged off by City Police Commissioner P. Prakash from the Meditrina Hospital complex will culminate at the Kollam beach. IDA president John Shibu said the programmes planned on the beach in this connection included a quiz for the public on messages against the use of tobacco.
Dr. Shibu said that tobacco was the prime cause for oral cancer and 80 per cent of oral cancer deaths were in India.
Dr. Shibu said the day, introduced by the World Health Organisation, is observed to encourage people to reduce or completely stop the use of tobacco in any form. The WHO theme for observing the day this year is ‘Stop illicit trade of tobacco products.’
