CUTTACK: The Acharya Harihar Regional Cancer Centre (AHRCC) has now taken it upon itself to lead the fight against tobacco, which is the major cause of cancer, diabetes, stroke and cardiovascular diseases in the State. The only Government-run cancer hospital of the State has finally decided to enforce a complete ban on tobacco consumption on the campus from Tuesday, the World No Tobacco Day. It might have come late but the AHRCC will finally be officially pronounced “No Tobacco Zone” and no one right from the staff to visitors to attendants of patients will be allowed to consume tobacco on the premises. The AHRCC authorities have decided to fine violators. The first offence would invite ` 200 fine, the next ` 500 and if still found violating, the staff member would be reported to the Disciplinary Committee of the Hospital for proceedings while the visitor/attendant would be evicted from the campus. “Charity begins at home. When we cannot stop our own people from consuming tobacco, how can we persuade the patients and common public to quit the habit? The doctors and staff of the institute have offered to take pledge against tobacco here tomorrow,” said Director Prof. Sukadev Nayak. As per the hospital records, oral cancer, head and neck, lungs, stomach and esophagus, for which tobacco is the single largest contributor, account for over 50 per cent of all cases in the AHRCC. Tobacco, in fact, is the biggest killer in the country claiming a life every 10 seconds. With the present rate of increase in smokers, one Indian will die every three seconds by 2020. While chewing tobacco, more practised in Orissa, is a far greater health hazard due to higher concentration of tobacco, smoking accounts for over 87 per cent of all lung cancers. “The younger generation should be the main targets of anti-tobacco campaign as more than 90 per cent of addicts start the habit right from their adolescence. For that special measures as withdrawing sale of tobacco from the vicinity of schools and hospitals along with spreading awareness need urgent implementation,” Dr Nayak said. The AHRCC has also set upon itself to initiate a campaign for making Cuttack “Tobacco-Free”. Starting with evicting tobacco vendors from the campus and from its boundary, the doctors and staff will also take out a rally to the CMC office seeking strict enforcement of anti-tobacco law. “The rally would be flagged off by Collector KK Mohanty. We would also take up the matter with Commissionerate police and be an active partner in its efforts,” Prof Nayak said.
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