UICC World Cancer Congress 2006

Objective:We propose to assess the extent of the problem of tobacco use among the high school children, propagate the anti-tobacco messages and devise a mechanism of surveillance to identify at least some of the new habitués. The project work is being carried out among the population in Kolkata. Every year four million people die due to tobacco related diseases worldwide out of which one fifth are in India. Two million youngsters join the ever-growing community of tobacco users in India each year..

Methods:The children studying at the high school levels (eighth standard and above) are at the most vulnerable age group to initiate any type of tobacco habit. Studies have shown that they are the ones who get easily impressed by the surrogate advertisements and peer pressures and acquire the tobacco habits. A survey done at Calcutta found that nearly 60% of the smokers initiate the habit before the age of 20 years.

Results:We started a tobacco cessation pilot project in a school in the suburbs of Kolkata called “ Nirmal Swas” and found that though the consumption of Cigarettes and Bidis have reduced but there is a substantial increase in the consumption of other tobacco products like Gutka and Khaini. Our mission in the long run will definitely help the students to identify the tobacco in other product also. Once they are made aware of the same then we can bring down the incidence of tobacco related cancer in India.