To celebrate World No Tobacco Day, Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, Indian Dental Association - West Bengal State Branch(IDA), Indian Medical Association (IMA) – West Bengal State and Sambandh Health  Foundation jointly launched the campaign #PledgeAgainstTobacco and #TobaccoFreeSchools to create awareness about the health hazards of tobacco consumption and preventing the youth from acquiring the habit.

The campaign would include activities in schools, colleges to spread the knowledge of tobacco related health issues. The four  organizations will also have regular health talks and screening camps at various public places in order to spread the message. Present at the occasion, Dr Sourav Datta, Consultant, Head & Neck Oncologist Narayana Superspeciality Hospital said, “Quitting tobacco is not easy, as tobacco dependence is a cluster of behavioral, cognitive and physiological phenomena.

Very few tobacco users can successfully quit the habit in their first attempt. But the evidence is strong that it can be done. From quit lines to counseling to prescription medicines, there are numerous effective ways to quit. Hence we pledge against tobacco.” Every year nearly one million new cancer cases are diagnosed in India the prevalence being 2.5 million. With mortalities of 6 lakhs – 7 lakhs,  cancer causes 6 per cent of all adult deaths in the country (Global Adult Tobacco Survey – GATS 2).

According to a series of papers published in the Lancet Oncology Journal the number of deaths per year in projected to shoot up to 1.2 million by 2035. According to Sanjay Seth, Trustee & Head of Tobacco Control, Sambandh Health Foundation said, "It is sad to see 24 year old youngsters having heart attacks because of smoking. State Governments need to be focus of preventive campaigns,  especially, for students. This is the only way to save the next generation."

Currently people in the 30-69 years of age group account for over 2/3rd of cancer deaths in India with less than 1/3rd of the patients  surviving for more than five years after diagnosis. Tobacco use alone accounts for about 40 per cent of all cancers in India. About 275 million Indians (35 per cent of adult population and 14.1% children aged 13-15 years) are tobacco users; mainly smokeless tobacco says a paper by Paul E. Goss of HarvardMedical School, Boston and others.

According to Dr Santanu Sen, Secretary, Indian Medical Association – West Bengal State, “ Indian Medical Association is committed to the cause of Tobacco Free West Bengal. With #TobaccoFreeSchool we hope to aware the youth of today not to take up this deadly habit and also urge their parents to quit the consumption of Tobacco. We feel that with the public support like we had today we can take this initiative much ahead.”

In West Bengal 33.5 per cent (2.3 crores) of all adults smoke tobacco and / or use smokeless tobacco and 438 children start  consumption of tobacco daily. 16.7 per cent (1.15 crore) of all adults currently smoke tobacco, 20.1 per cent (1.38 crores) of all adults
currently use smokeless tobacco and 22.5 per cent (1.54 crores) of all adults are exposed to second-hand smoke at any public place. 1.5 lakh die untimely deaths every year due to tobacco related diseases (Global Adult Tobacco Survey – GATS 2).

According Raju Biswas, Secretary, Indian Dental Association – West Bengal State Branch, “Indian Dental Association has been  actively campaigning against Tobacco with Narayana Superspeciality Hospital Howrah and in last 4 years. We are committed in our
goal of making a Tobacco free West Bengal and #TobaccoFreeSchool is going to be a big step in our crusade.The state government has been very supportive of this cause.” The major focus of this campaign is to promote tobacco free schools for preventing initiation of tobacco consumption among school children and also to sensitize school children to motivate their parents/relatives/friends to stay away from tobacco consumption.