India is the second largest consumer of tobacco globally with approximately one-sixth of world’s tobacco-related deaths.
Finding a uniquely creative way to express concern towards the consumption of tobacco products, Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd and Novotel Hotels & Resorts, Ahmedabad jointly organised a motorbike on the occasion of ‘No Tobacco Day’ on May 31, 2019.
Commencing from the hotel, the rally routed towards S.G. Highway, while circling the periphery of South Bopal to reach back to Novotel. The focus of this motorbike rally was to encourage people to stop selling as well as buying tobacco products and kick the habit to adopt a healthy and clean lifestyle.
India is the second largest consumer of tobacco globally with approximately one-sixth of world’s tobacco-related deaths. With its exorbitant cost, it has exacerbated poverty and raised expenses in terms of providing treatment for the same. Also, the expenses incurred in tobacco are usually at the cost of the basic needs of food and education.
Ridul Deka, General Manager, Novotel-Ahmedabad said, “We take this opportunity to spread as much awareness as possible about the harmful and deadly effects of tobacco use and passive smoking exposure in any form.”
“It is important to spread awareness at a grass-roots level as youngsters are the ones who majorly start consuming tobacco at an early age without understanding the harmful effects. Such information should also be a part of the curriculum at a formative age and necessary guidance is imperative.”, he added.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimation, deaths due to tobacco-related diseases will rise up to 13.3% in 2020 with the mortality in India being approximately 1.5 million by 2020.
