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The Directorate of Public Health Department in Chennai has decided to send its staff begging on the streets of Chennai on Saturday, May 31, 2008. The begging is however not begging for alms but begging smokers to quit smoking. The Directorate of Public Health Department staff members on Saturday, dressed in costumes will beg smokers to donate their cigarettes to kick start the anti-tobacco campaign in the state.
Deputy Health Director, Dr Selvavinayakam who has been working on the project revealed that by donating one cigarette, people can save at least fourteen minutes of their lives. The pet project of the department is being specially launched on the International anti-tobacco day to make Chennai smoke free by 2010.
According to World Health Organization, tobacco kills at least half of those who use it. A smoker faces fourteen times greater the risk of dying from cancer of the lung, throat or mouth and four times greater risk of dying from cancer of the esophagus.
Director of Public Health, Dr P Padmanabhan stated that they have asked the state government to use the money it gets from the fines collected from those violating the smoking laws. He further revealed that besides helping people to quit smoking, they intend to protect the rights of a non-smoker to a smoke-free environment.
Director of Public Health, Dr P Padmanabhan stated that they have asked the state government to use the money it gets from the fines collected from those violating the smoking laws. He further revealed that besides helping people to quit smoking, they intend to protect the rights of a non-smoker to a smoke-free environment.
