NO SMOKING DAY 2024

Date: 15-03-2024

Organizing unit/ agency/ collaborating agency:Department ofLife Sciences and Allied Health Sciences, SBBSU.

Event Venue/Time: : Govt. High School, Village Nandachaur, Dist. Hoshiarpurfrom 10:00 am to 2:30 pm

No. of Participant’s: 25

Event Report

Smoking significantly reduces life expectancy, taking many years off a person's total lifespan. Giving up smoking can help people live longer and have a higher quality of life. It harms not just smokers but also those in their immediate vicinity.

As per the recent research report 2022, there are about 253 million adults aged between 15 years and older who are tobacco users in India. This positions India 2nd globally and 1st in the WHO South East Asia Region (SEAR) in terms of the number of tobacco users. Thus, it becomes crucial to understand the underlying causes of this pervasive habit and observance of National Anti-Smoking Day.

No Smoking Day is an annual health awareness day observed around the world on the second Wednesday of March each year to encourage smokers to quit smoking and to raise awareness about the health risks of smoking.

Each year, the Day is celebrated with a specific theme to focus attention on different aspects of tobacco control. This year, the theme for No Smoking Day is “Protecting Children from Tobacco Industry Interference”.

Following the “No Smoking Day 2024” theme, the Department of Life Sciences & Allied Health Sciences at SBBSU (Under the aegis of IQAC) organized an awareness campaign to educate the young generation about the dangers of smoking and tobacco consumption.

The awareness drive was conducted on 15th March 2024 and led by 25 students and two faculty members, Ms. Meena and Ms. Himani, of our department.

Under this campaign, young children between the ages of 13 – 15 years of Govt. High School, Village Nandachaur, Dist. Hoshiarpur were made aware of the harms of smoking and the benefits of quitting. The information about the health effects of smoking and tobacco consumption, resources for quitting, and strategies for preventing youth smoking initiation was disseminated through open discussion, posters, PowerPoint presentations, and by displaying video clips on related issues.

The children were also informed about the devastating effects of secondary smoke, which impacts severely children under age 12 in a closed environment, such as traveling in a car or bus with a smoker.

The tobacco control measures and regulations, such as reducing children’s exposure to tobacco marketing advertisements to safeguard children’s health and well-being, were also discussed with teachers and staff members.

Overall, the day served as an important opportunity to mobilize individuals and the general public to take action against smoking and its harmful effects on health, with particular emphasis on protecting children and young people from the influence of the tobacco industry.

At last, we would like to appreciate and acknowledge the principal, staff, and school management for their active involvement and for making all the arrangements to make this interactive session with students a grand success.