Heart conducts Tobacco
awareness programme at Mathadi Hospital
By Dinesh Kamath
NAVI MUMBAI: HEART
Foundation conducted an awareness programme on tobacco under its FIT (Free
India from Tobacco) project at Mathadi hospital on 11th May 2017 as
a part of their birth anniversary celebration of their Founder Mr. Shivajirao
Annasaheb Patil.
Dr. Avhad,
intern with HEART, and Mrs. Uma Vaidyanathan, the Coordinator, were the main
speakers. Mrs. Vaidyanathan spoke about the organisation, its activities and
future plans. She also spoke about the fact that though government have been
spreading awareness about the ill effect of tobacco it is not translating into
decreasing the number of death due to tobacco consumption. One of the worker
stated that he consumes tobacco to keep awake during his night shift. Dr. Avhad
cleared various myths prevailing with regards to tobacco consumption. He
stressed the physical, mental and economical effect of tobacco. He also assured
the audience of help to wean away from tobacco. Three workers of the hospital
assured to leave consumption of tobacco. Dr. Patil, MS of Mathadi Hospital
summed up the programme suggesting ways and means of alternate to tobacco.
“There are
approximately 120 million smokers and tobacco chewers in India. According to
the World Health Organization (WHO), Thirty per cent of the population 15 years
or older—47% men and 14% of women—either smoked or chewed tobacco, which
translates to almost 195 million people—154 million men and 41 million women in
India. However, the prevalence may be underestimated by almost 11% and 1.5% for
chewing tobacco among men and women, respectively, and by 5% and 0.5% for
smoking among men and women, respectively, because of use of household
informants” said Dr. Jayakar Ellis, President of Heart Foundation.
Mrs.
Vaidyanathan also announced about the support group for caregivers programme to
be launched by the Foundation from June.
No comments:
Post a Comment