Awareness rally on Tobacco Free Youth Campaign 2.0 organized in Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar (19/11/2024): Tobacco consumption is a leading cause of preventable diseases and deaths worldwide, contributing to cancer, heart disease, stroke, and respiratory issues.
Every year around 13 lakh people lose their lives due to tobacco in India.
According to the global youth tobacco Survey 14.6% of Indian youth (13 to 15 years of age use tobacco product.
It not only harms the user but also exposes others to the dangers of secondhand smoke.
Quitting tobacco can significantly improve health, enhance quality of life, and prevent severe long-term consequences.
The Tobacco Free Youth Campaign 2.0 (TFYC 2.0) is a 60-day campaign launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to encourage young people to quit or resist tobacco use.
People’s Cultural Centre (PECUC) in cooperation with State NCD/Tobacco Control Cell, Directorate of Public Health, Government of Odisha organized a Public Awareness Meeting & awareness rally on “Tobacco Free Youth Campaign 2.0” from Ekamrahaat Gate to Master Canteen Square on the occasion of World Day for the Prevention of Child Abuse.
On this occasion a meeting was organized at Ekamrahaat Amphitheatre.
Ranjan Kumar Mohanty, Secretary, PECUC addressed the gathering and shared the purpose of this programme.
The rally was flag off by Dr.Nilakantha Mishra, Director Public Health and Anuradha Biswal, Olympian.
Other personalities who joined the rally were Dr.Ketra Mohan Kanda, Additional Director, Dr.Basanta Pradhan, Joint Director, Dr.Girija Sankar Mishra, State Tobacco Control Cell, Lalit Mohan Sahu, State NCD Cell, Anuradha Mohanty, Executive Director, PECUC, Dr.Satybrat Satpathy, Assistant Manger, NCD, Dr.Subhajit Pati, Programme Assistant Tobacco Control Cell & Dr.Sunita Jena, State Epidermatologist.
The speakers emphasized the importance of living a healthy life by quitting tobacco and urged the youth to contribute for building a tobacco-free generation.
They advised the youth not to get addicted to tobacco use.
They encouraged young individuals to take an oath to avoid tobacco use and to lead awareness initiatives in their families, communities & inspiring others to embrace a healthier, tobacco-free lifestyle.
More than 250 numbers of youth from Baneswar College, Bentapur, Balianta, Madanpur College, Khordha, Deba Ray College, IMS, youth volunteers from BMC slum, villages of Balianta participated in the programme.
Jyotishankar Mohanty, Ratna Dash, Puja Panda, Alpana Dash facilitated the programme.
