Anupriya Patel Flags Off Auto Rally for No Tobacco Awareness
Anupriya Patel, India’s Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, flagged off an auto-rickshaw rally in Delhi today to encourage abstinence from tobacco consumption to commemorate this year’s World No Tobacco Day.
As part of this auto rally, more than 100 auto drivers will be motivated to engage with the commuters to drive the campaign for at least a minimum period of one month in different locations covering entire Delhi. For mass awareness, the messages would be carried on the hood of the autos.
[ कौन है दिल्ली में बढ़ते भ्रष्टाचार और बर्बादी के लिए जिम्मेदार? ]
Speaking at the event, Anupriya Patel said that this year’s World No Tobacco Day theme is “Tobacco and Heart Disease” which focuses on the impact that tobacco consumption has on the cardiovascular system.
“Here we must not forget that it is not limited to cardiovascular diseases, but tobacco use is also attributable to cancer, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases, Tuberculosis, Diabetes and other non –communicable diseases,” she said.
The minister further said that World No Tobacco Day is a key advocacy tool for creating mass awareness on dangers of tobacco use among general public. “We must ensure additional efforts are made to provide support to enforcement of tobacco control laws in the country,” she added.
Photo courtesy: Press Information Bureau
