Chennai: With an aim to sensitize and empower youngsters falling prey to tobacco addiction, ahead of World No Tobacco Day on May 31, the Adyar Cancer Institute, on Saturday, conducted a workshop themed ‘Tobacco: A Threat to Development’.
As tobacco is becoming the cause of cancers among a large percentage of the public in the country, ensuring that teachers do not serve as a negative influence to youngsters was a major topic of discussion at the workshop.
Inaugurating the workshop, Dr V. Shanta, chairperson of the Institute, said, “There must be a law against letting tobacco users get a job as teachers in educational institutions. Tobacco related cancer causes 10 lakh deaths in India every year, one-third of which, are preventable.”
Cancers, cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension and premature deaths are a result of tobacco consumption. “Those who regularly consume tobacco related products face increased morbidity of other diseases too. 90 per cent of tuberculosis patients who succumb to the disease are seen to be smokers,” added Dr Shanta.
While it clearly poses a risk for those who are direct consumers, passive smokers are also severely affected. According to a survey conducted by the Cancer Institute of India, passive smoking is experienced by at least 39.5 percent children in India. Pregnant women who are exposed to cigarette smoke stand at chance of putting even their unborn child at risk.
At the seminar, Justice N Kirubakaran, sitting judge of Madras high court said, “Cancer is inside the system which prohibits government to enforce laws strongly.”
