Ahmedabad: Apollo Hospitals Ahmedabad, in collaboration with the Road Journeys Bikers’ Group, commemorated World No Tobacco Day on Friday with a bike rally to raise awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco.

The rally was flagged off from Parimal Garden and witnessed the enthusiastic participation of cancer survivors, doctors, nursing staff and the bikers group. Emphasising the collective effort to combat tobacco use and promote a healthier lifestyle, the rally traversed different parts of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar before culminating at Apollo Hospital in Ambawadi.

Mr. Neeraj Lal, COO and Unit Head of Apollo Hospitals, Gujarat Region, Dr. Akash Shah, Senior Consultant Medical Oncologist at Apollo Cancer Centre, Ahmedabad, Dr. Rushit Shah, Consultant Medical Oncologist at Apollo Cancer Care Hospital, Ahmedabad, and Mr. Sandip Joshi, General Manager of Apollo Hospitals Ahmedabad, were among the notable participants of the rally.

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Tobacco Free Initiative (TFI) by WHO include, surveillance and monitoring, implementing tobacco control, support quitting tobacco, watching and countering the tobacco industry, tobacco product regulation and WHO’s mandate on monitoring the tobacco industry.

The magnitude of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) continues to accelerate globally. There is a pressing need for increased awareness for stronger and more focused responses both at country and international level. Tobacco use is an important risk factor for the development of coronary heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular diseases. Tobacco users who die prematurely deprive their families of income, raise the cost of health care and hinder economic development.

Awareness and knowledge among large sections of the public that tobacco is one of the leading causes of CVD is low, despite the devastating harms of tobacco to the health of heart, and the availability of solutions to reduce tobacco related death and disease.

Theme on World No Tobacco Day – A WHO initiative

1. 1987 – “World no-smoking day”- abstain from using tobacco products for 24 hours on 7 April 1988 on its 40th anniversary

2. 1988  – Every year on May 31-”World No Tobacco Day”-organizing various events and tobacco-related themes

3. 1998 – The Tobacco Free Initiative (TFI)

4. 2003 – WHO TCTC- Agreement on implementing policy for tobacco cessation

5. 2008 – “Tobacco-free youth” – WHO call for a worldwide ban on all tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship.

6. 2015 – WNTD highlighted health risks associated with tobacco use

7. 2016 – Get ready for plain packaging of tobacco products.

8. 2017 – Tobacco as “a threat to development” Campaign.

9. 2018 – Impact of tobacco on “the cardiovascular health”.

World Health Organisation is committed to fight the global tobacco epidemic:

The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC-2005) is an evidence-based treaty that reaffirms the right of people to the highest standard of health, provides legal dimensions for international health cooperation and sets high standards for compliance.

World No Tobacco Day 2018 aims to:

1. Highlight the links between the use of tobacco products and heart and other cardiovascular diseases.

2. Increase awareness within the broader public of the impact tobacco use and exposure to second-hand smoke have on cardiovascular health.

3. Provide opportunities for the public, governments and others to make commitments to promote heart health by protecting people from use of tobacco products.

4. Encourage countries to strengthen implementation of the proven MPOWER tobacco control measures contained in the WHO FCTC.

Dr.N.Mariappan

Plastic surgeon – Chennai.

Ph: 9901043568

E-mail: drn_m@hotmail.com

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