Smt. Anupriya Patel flags off an auto-rickshaw rally to encourage abstinence from tobacco consumption 

New Delhi, June 01, 2018 ; Smt.Anupriya Patel, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare flagged off an auto-rickshaw rally to encourage abstinence from tobacco consumption to commemorate this year’s World No Tobacco Day, here today. 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.

Speaking at the event, SmtAnupriyaPatel 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.

Smt.Anupriya Patel 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 being made to provide support to enforcement of the tobacco control laws in the country,” she added.

Also present at the event were ShriSanjeeva Kumar, Addl. Secretary, Smt.Promila Gupta, DGHS, and other senior officers of the Ministry representatives of the WHO Country Office and civil society organizations.