The Times of India 02.08.2012
Corporators to kickstart tobacco drive
MUMBAI: The civic body has tied up with Tata Memorial hospital to conduct an awareness on tobacco in 24 administrative wards.Corporators will be trained by the hospital to create anti-tobacco awarenes in their wards. According to the figures submitted by Tata Memorial hospital at the BMC's general body meeting on Tuesday,10 lakh people are suffering from cancer and five lakh people are dying of cancer, every year in India. 10-15% have cancer due to unhygineic conditions and obesity.
Tobacco consumption in civic schools is 30% within the age-group of 10-18 years."We have shared with the corporators all details of information that can be shared with the ward related to ill-effects of tobacco, as well as the laws that need to be implemented. Especially, on spitting and public smoking. We will create awareness on sale of tobacco within 100 yards of any educational institute,"said Dr Rajendra Badwe, Tata Memorial hospital.
The Preventive Oncology department of Tata Memorial hospital will provide information to BMC
on the ill-effects of tobacco and it various laws.A demand was made in
the civic general body meeting to set up a tobacco control cell in BMC.