New Delhi, August 25, 2019: According to the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS), 14.6% of adolescents currently use any form of tobacco of which boys are 19% and girls are 8.3%.
In an effort to create awareness about the ill-effects on tobacco and to curb the growth of consumption among children Narayana Health in association with Consortium For Tobacco Free Karnataka (CFTFK), supported by Indian Institute of Public Health today organised an awareness campaign titled ‘Safe School Project’. The campaign was conducted at Vivekananda High School near Chandapura circle, Anekal. The program witnessed street play performance by Vaz Dramatics Academy, the theatre group by the students of Christ University. The event also witnessed awareness talks by Dr. Anupama Shetty, Head – CSR, Narayana Health, Dr. Vivek Shetty, Consultant Head & Neck Onco-surgeon (Mazumdar Shaw Cancer Centre, Narayana Health City and Block Education Officer of Anekal.
Elaborating about the initiative, Dr. Anupama Shetty, General Manager and Head CSR, Narayana Health “Tobacco addiction, especially among youngsters is a major concern across the country and the state. According to National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, the average age wherein children start smoking is 13 to 15 years of age. Further, many of the children are already addicted even before they reach 18 years of age making it imperative to create awareness and interventions at an early stage.” “Currently the initiative is in its pilot stage. In the pilot stage, we plan to reach out to 28 government and private schools across Anekal as well as Doddaballapur and conduct awareness programs. However, we intend to scale up the program and engage with schools across the state. We also plan to include mental health which is a crucial yet poorly focused subject, in our programs.”
Corporate Comm India (CCI Newswire)
