Indians are the largest consumers of tobacco in the world. It is the need of the hour to create awareness on the indiscriminate usage of tobacco, the hazards caused by it on the users, their family, to the society and to the nation.
World Health Organization,(WHO) jointly with Nobel Laureate Mother Teresa Charitable Trust and its unit- Mother Teresa Forum conducted Anti Tobacco Awareness Workshop for sensitizing Govt.officials,school/college students, voluntary organizations and general public in the states of Pondicherry and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. WHO enabled the entire program with financial support.
Anti-tobacco workshop at Portblair:
A workshop on Anti-tobacco was held at Teel House, Dilanipur, Portblair, Andaman on 28th of Nov 2008.
Shri.Vivek Rae IAS, Chief Secretary to the Govt. of Andaman & Nicobar Islands inaugurated the workshop.
Dr. Jairam, Nodel Officer, Tobacco control, Andaman & Nicobar, Dr.Amithra Dey, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Gladys Cyril, Dr.Wajit Alsi Shah, Dr.N.Rajavel and Mr.Hemraj Bahadur, Senior Advocate took part in the workshop and gave their deliberations on various topics related to Anti-tobacco.
The participants included police officials, Govt. servants, public and private sector representatives, media people, NGO representatives and the general public.
The program was documented through video coverage, overhead projectors and was well received by the audience.
Similar such workshop was held at Kali Mandir community Hall, Havelock on 29.11.2008, which was also attended by the general public, NGO Representatives media persons police officers, Govt. Officers etc.
Anti-tobacco workshop for students:
The program was for students, held at Kamraj English School, Brookshabed, Andaman on 1st and 2nd December 2008. It was an Anti-tobacco Awareness Camp. More than 219 students from Portblair and its surrounding area participated in the program.
Dr. Vidhubala, Principal Investigator, TCC, Cancer Institute Adyar, Chennai, Dr.N.Rajavel and other resource persons were with the students and presentation was made on various topics on Anti-tobacco Awareness.
Anti tobacco programme at Pondicherry state:
Our first program at Pondicherry was held on 29th Dec 2009 at Multi Purpose social service society Laporte street, Pondicherry.
The workshop was headed by Shri. E.Valsaraj, Honble Minister of Health, and Shri M.Kandasamy, Honble Minister of Welfare & Cooperation. Smt. Dr. Dilipkumar Balika, Director, Helath & Family welfare. Dr.M.Bala Soundarssanane, Dr.V.Balu, Dean, Mother Teresa Post Graduate Research Institute, Dr.Gunaseelan, JIPMER and M.K.Ranganathan, Senior advocate gave their delibrations on the occasion on various Anti- tobacco related topics.
The beneficiaries were Govt. officials, representatives of NGOs, SHG & Forums, media people and others. Similar workshop was held on 30th Dec.2008 at P.S.R.Conference Hall, Karaikal.
Our final program for students was held at Jeevanantham Govt. Hr.Sec. School, Pondicherry.
The entire program was successfully completed with good follow-ups and was well appreciated by WHO heads.