Due to tobacco usage, 2,200-3000 people die every day, and 8-9 lakh people die per year in India, shared Dr.P.Guhan, Director, SRIOR on World No Tobacco Day observance event held at Sri Ramakrishna Hospital today.


Sri Ramakrishna Institute of Oncology and Research (SRIOR) - Sri Ramakrishna Hospital observed World No Tobacco Day on Wednesday, and launched Cancer Awareness Digital Infographics Web Book in English and Tamil for the first time in India.


It was launched by the Chief Guest V.Balakrishnan IPS, Commissioner of Police, Coimbatore and R.Sundar, Joint Managing Trustee, SNR Sons Charitable Trust in the presence of Dr.P.Guhan, Director, SRIOR and Dr.K.Karthikesh, Consultant Surgical Oncologist, SRIOR.


What the New Web Book offers?

Talking about this new initiative, Dr.P.Guhan said that this web book instantly gives information about the ‘Ill-effects of Smoking’, ‘Health Benefits of Quitting Smoking’, ‘Health Effects caused by Smokeless Tobacco’ and also gives some useful tips to Quit Smoking and Tobacco.


The Digital Infographics Web Book also contains a 6-minute video to explain the diseases associated with tobacco use in detail. Both the text and video material are available in both English and Tamil for the public’s benefit.


How tobacco hurts health?

Dr.Guhan shared that tobacco smoke contains a mix of more than 7000 chemicals; hundreds of them are toxic and 70 can cause cancers.

He added that tobacco is the major cause of lung and head & neck cancers among men in India. 80% of lung cancer and neck cancer are caused by Tobacco.

On the other side, there are many other diseases associated with tobacco use including COPD, respiratory disease, stroke, heart attack and infertility.

He further cautioned that the risk of developing diabetes is 30-40% higher for active smokers than non-smokers. Besides this smoking affects bone health, immunity function and causes inflammation.

Dr.P.Guhan added that tobacco remains a major cause of death among people under 40 years of age.

Due to tobacco usage, 2,200-3000 people die every day, and 8-9 lakh people die per year in India. Hence we find it important to create awareness among people about the ill-effects of tobacco at least once in a year and hold this event.

In fact we have been holding this event continuously for 20 years.


Taking awareness innovatively for 2 decades

R.Sundar, Joint Managing Trustee, SNR Sons Charitable Trust appreciated SRIOR for organizing World No Tobacco Day innovatively for 2 decades.

He appreciated SRIOR for making use of the digital mode in order to sensitize the public about tobacco's harms for the last 5-10 years. He expressed that such innovative contents like this Web-book can have a positive impact on people and inform them of every ill-effect that could be caused by Tobacco.


We need enforcement and awareness!

Speaking at the event, V.Balakrishnan IPS said that every year 1000+ cases are filed on persons selling banned tobacco products. Till May 2023, 250 such cases have been filed, 200+ persons have been arrested and nearly 2 ton (1700 kgs) of banned tobacco products have been seized.

Recently 170 shops that sell gutka in Coimbatore were closed with the assistance of Coimbatore Corporation.

On Tuesday 450 kg of tobacco product was seized and out of that 150 kg was a product called Cool Lip, which is targeted at school kids.

While enforcement is made to reduce tobacco sales to a greater extent, it alone cannot eliminate tobacco usage by people; for that awareness about the harmful impacts of tobacco is needed, especially among school children, as they are also targeted by these tobacco sellers.

He said eliminating tobacco from society is a huge challenge, and it requires support from teachers, medical organisations and all stakeholders.

Balakrishnan emphasized that awareness efforts that can create a change in the behaviour of tabacco users, should be taken up.

He appreciated SRIOR & Sri Ramakrishna Hospital's role in awareness creation, and he commended their solid role in fight against tobacco usage for 20 years.

He wanted SRIOR to highlight the societal impact of various digital awareness initiatives taken by them, and even publish them as a research paper so that it can inspire other similar organisations to take such measures.


Dr.Karthikesh, Consultant Surgical Oncologist, SRIOR proposed vote of thanks.

The web book can be accessed by scanning a dedicated QR code and by visiting the website https://digione.in/srior/NoTobaccoDay/index.html