Make India Tobacco-free: FAIMA writes to PM Modi, seeks immediate action

"Controlling tobacco use will be a primordial prevention, especially when it comes to the young population, which will save many millions of lives. We at FAIMA request you to kindly look into this matter as early as possible and take immediate steps to help the country become tobacco-free," read the letter.

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Commenting on the issue Deepak Kumar, Vice President of FAIMA told Medical Dialogues, "Long-term use of tobacco increases the risk of dying with stroke and heart disease. Being the core of the Medical Fraternity, we FAIMA members have initiated MAKE INDIA TOBACCO FREE campaign."

He further added," Is it hard to leave tobacco? the answer may be yes but certainly, it's NOT IMPOSSIBLE. The initiative may be small but the impact it will make is definitive. Because even one day of "Tobacco Elimination" will increase your life expectancy by 30 days." 

The doctors' association said in the letter that tobacco use is one of the biggest public health threats in the country and it causes almost 1.35 loses of lives every year. It not only leads to loss of lives but also has heavy social and economic costs for the public. The FAIMA has also launched a campaign to educate the people about the ill effects of tobacco.

Pointing out that India is the second largest producer and consumer of tobacco, the association further stated in the letter, "The most prevalent form of tobacco use in India is smokeless tobacco such as 'khaini', 'gutkha' and 'paan' with 'zarda'. Other smoking forms of tobacco are 'bidi', cigarette and 'hookah'. We request you to control the use of tobacco in every form to save the population and remove public health threats." 

"Through the 'Tobacco-Free India' campaign, we are trying to make the public aware of the ill-effects of tobacco. We initially launched the campaign at every medical college of the country; later, we will expand it in the public domain," said Ajay Kumar Singh, national president, FAIMA.

Taking about the further plans of FAIMA in handling the issue of excessive tobacco consumption, another member of FAIMA Dr Manish stated, " We will start it in public domain after it gets successful in Hospitals all over India. We will take help of Judiciary Bureaucracy too after politicians' help." 

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