Coimbatore: Striving to create heightened awareness on the ill effects of tobacco usage, the Ramakrishna Institute of Oncology and Research on Friday released special animated videos in Tamil and English on 'World No Tobacco Day' at the Institute today.
Coimbatore: Striving to create heightened awareness on the ill effects of tobacco usage, the Ramakrishna Institute of Oncology and Research on Friday released special animated videos in Tamil and English on 'World No Tobacco Day' at the Institute today.
The videos that were released by the Coimbatore District Collector K Rajamani can be accessed by anybody, free of cost at www.quitsmokingsrior.com The management has also planned to use a specially-designed van with a digital screen which would travel to educational institutions, Primary Health Centres and rural areas to create awareness.
According to Dr. P Guhan, the Director and Chief Medical Oncologist of the Institute, a dedicated Counsellor will accompany the van to screen for oral pre-malignant lesions as well as to help people quit tobacco.
“We have so far screened more than 25,000 people, free of cost in Coimbatore and adjoining districts under Project Deepam and have counselled more than a lakh,” said Dr. Guhan.
After releasing the videos, the District Collector Rajamani opined that an alarming rate of youngsters were addicted to smoking. “While awareness is important to help quit smoking, it is disheartening to see the educated part of the country, including youngsters take to the habit in spite of being aware of the consequences of smoking." He further claimed that the effects of tobacco poses a huge challenge for mankind.
“Such awareness rallies are appreciated. But if we are to eradicate the use of tobacco, we should not stop with one event or one day. This is something that should be continuous and non-stop,” he added.