‘World No Tobacco Day’ observed

Ongole: The district medical and health officer Dr S Rajyalakshmi flagged off a rally and addressed a meeting held at the RIMS Ongole, as part of the observation of World No Tobacco Day in Prakasam district.

In the meeting at RIMS, the RIMS director Sk Mastan Saheb, dental HOD Dr N Kiran Kumar, additional DMHO Dr PAdmavati and other staff from RIMS, DMHO department and Ongole Municipal Corporation also participated. 

Dr Padmavati, additional DMHO convened the rally and explained the health-related complications that one can get by using tobacco products. She said that public smoking was an offense and can be fined about Rs 200 under COTPA Act, 2003. She explained that no tobacco product shall be sold near to 100 yards of any school and cannot be sold to or by the children.

Rajyalakshmi explained the consequences of tobacco use and asked the staff to create awareness at the root level. Mastan Shaeb explained about the social and economic impact on family and society by the tobacco products. 

Kiran Kumar said that they were observing oral cancers in less than 30 years aged people due to the consumption of tobacco.

The speakers opined that massive awareness campaigns were required to bring the necessary change at the ground level.