On World No Tobacco Day, Sri Ramakrishna Hospital’s SRIOR launched the Interactive Digital Counsellor Modules in English and Tamil, a first in India. TNAU Vice-Chancellor V. Geethalakshmi inaugurated the modules aimed at tobacco awareness.
Coimbatore: In a significant initiative on World No Tobacco Day, the Sri Ramakrishna Hospital – Sri Ramakrishna Institute of Oncology & Research (SRIOR) unveiled Interactive Digital Counsellor Modules in both English and Tamil, marking a pioneering step in Indian healthcare.
The launch event was graced by V. Geethalakshmi, Vice-Chancellor of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), who acted as the chief guest.
This year, apart from the traditional awareness campaigns on the harmful effects of tobacco, SRIOR introduced these digital modules to enhance public access to credible health advice. These modules are accessible at www.quitsmokingsrior.com/counsellor_module.html, providing audio messages that simulate a session with a healthcare expert. This is part of an ongoing effort to utilize digital platforms to spread awareness, following previous initiatives like a dedicated tobacco awareness app and various digital publications crafted by SRIOR.
Dr. P. Guhan, Director of SRIOR, highlighted the grave statistics related to tobacco use in India, noting that annually, 8 to 9 lakh Indians die from tobacco-related diseases, contributing significantly to the incidence of various cancers and heart diseases. He stressed the importance of the newly launched modules in educating the public on the risks of smoking and the benefits of quitting.
Moreover, Dr. Guhan discussed the concerning rise in cancer cases in Tamil Nadu, which is currently ranked fifth in India for the highest number of new cancer patients, with a significant proportion linked to tobacco usage. He emphasized the free resources and support, including Nicotine Chewing Gum for smokers attempting to quit and free Oral Cancer Screenings for long-time smokers, aimed at early detection and prevention.
The launch event was graced by V. Geethalakshmi, Vice-Chancellor of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), who acted as the chief guest.
This year, apart from the traditional awareness campaigns on the harmful effects of tobacco, SRIOR introduced these digital modules to enhance public access to credible health advice. These modules are accessible at www.quitsmokingsrior.com/counsellor_module.html, providing audio messages that simulate a session with a healthcare expert. This is part of an ongoing effort to utilize digital platforms to spread awareness, following previous initiatives like a dedicated tobacco awareness app and various digital publications crafted by SRIOR.
Dr. P. Guhan, Director of SRIOR, highlighted the grave statistics related to tobacco use in India, noting that annually, 8 to 9 lakh Indians die from tobacco-related diseases, contributing significantly to the incidence of various cancers and heart diseases. He stressed the importance of the newly launched modules in educating the public on the risks of smoking and the benefits of quitting.
Moreover, Dr. Guhan discussed the concerning rise in cancer cases in Tamil Nadu, which is currently ranked fifth in India for the highest number of new cancer patients, with a significant proportion linked to tobacco usage. He emphasized the free resources and support, including Nicotine Chewing Gum for smokers attempting to quit and free Oral Cancer Screenings for long-time smokers, aimed at early detection and prevention.