AMA organised a mega rally on May 31 to raise awareness against use of tobacco.
According to latest reports, 80% males and 40% females take tobacco in different forms in India and roughly 50,00,000 children get habituated to tobacco every year in the country.
Gujarat is known as one of the states in the country for the highest use and production of tobacco and its products.
Dr Narendra Raval, pulmonary specialist and president of Gujarat Chest Physician Association said, “With large number of youngsters using snuff and other smokeless tobacco products the cases of oral and oesophagus cancers are on the rise in the state. Also, a large number of children are victims of passive smoking in the state.
Increasing number of teens are lured to consumption of snuff, bidi, cigars and gutkha.” The medical fraternity has united to raise awareness among the youth and parents to say no to tobacco and has organised a mega rally on May 31 which will begin at 9 am from Ahmedabad Medical Association. Thousands of doctors are to join the rally, he added. Dr Kaustubh Patel, head and neck cancer surgeon, said, “The state is on a brink of oral and head and neck cancer epidemic among
the productive age population as increasing number of young children are drawn towards the use of tobacco at an early age.”
In India 10 lakh deaths occur every year due to consumption of tobacco. The death toll is projected to reach more than 8 million by the end of the century if the current trend continues. According to National Family Health Survey (2005-06) 57% males and 11% females in India used tobacco in various forms which has reportedly grown to 80% males and 40% females during recent times. According to latest findings, 29% of global deaths occurring due to head and neck and oral cancers have been registered in India, which ranks second globally after China in production of tobacco and its products and third for their use.
