Campaign on ills of tobacco conducted

Secunderabad: Noted Dental Doctor and Chairman of Rao's Foundation Dr O Nageshwar Rao said that by consuming tobacco products such as cigarettes, gutka and Panparag, a person may get 54 different types of critical diseases.

He was speaking at a programme to create awareness among people against consumption of tobacco related products, held at Padmarao Nagar Park on Sunday as part of World No Tobacco Day programmes. The programme was organised by the representative of the walker association of the park Krishna Pujari.

Dr Nageshwar Rao explained the health hazards involved in consumption of tobacco related products. Everyday about 1,200 people are dying because of various diseases due to the consumption of tobacco products, he lamented. He urged farmers to stop cultivating tobacco and grow vegetables and rice instead.

He demanded governments to ban tobacco products. Huge government spending on cancer treatment can be saved by banning tobacco products, he opined. The savings thus accrued can also be spent for providing free medicines to poor, he added.

Lauding the efforts of Dr Nageshwar Rao who has been conducting awareness programmes on hazards of tobacco consumption, Krishna Pujari, local walker club representative, congratulated the doctor and hoped that at the awareness campaign would help a few people getting away from tobacco. Apart from the regular walkers of the park, a large number of people attended the awareness programme.