Hoshiarpur: As per the directions of Dr. Pawan Kumar and Senior Medical Officer Dr. Manpreet Bains, an Oral Cancer Awareness Seminar was organized at Government Senior Secondary School Falahi today. In which children were made aware about dental and oral cancer due to tobacco consumption.
On this occasion, Medical Officer (Dental) Dr. Sandeep Damana said that tobacco is a life-threatening substance. Tobacco consumption is a major cause of diseases and deaths worldwide. He said that eating tobacco causes many types of diseases. One of which is oral cancer which is a very dangerous disease. 99% of oral cancer is caused by using tobacco products.
He said that tobacco contains carcinogenic chemicals. Which can cause genetic changes in the cells of the mouth which leads to oral cancer. This cancer develops in the upper part of the mouth, lips or throat. Which can start as a painless red or white patch and keeps growing slowly. He said that if someone smokes tobacco products like cigarettes, then his risk of oral cancer is about 5 to 10 times higher than that of a person who has never smoked.
He said that oral cancer is 2 to 3 times more common in men than in women. Apart from oral cancer, tobacco use also causes many other types of cancer. Which include lung cancer, throat cancer, liver cancer, stomach cancer etc. Therefore, we should not use tobacco or products made from it. Rather, there is a great need to be aware of it. We should take care of our teeth like other parts of the body.
On this occasion, Dr. Sandeep Kumar told about the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTP Act) passed by the government in the year 2003 to reduce the epidemic of tobacco consumption and protect the health of the people. Under which smoking in public places is a legal offence. And a fine of up to Rs. 200 is also imposed on the violator.
It is prohibited to sell cigarettes or other tobacco products, directly or indirectly, to any person below the age of 18 years within 100 yards of any educational institution. Violation of this is a crime under the law, for which there is a provision of punishment and fine. On this occasion, a team from the health department also checked the teeth of the children present. On this occasion, Dr. Baljit, staff nurse Mrs. Kant, school principal Mrs. Mridula Sharma and other staff were present.