SAS Nagar, May 31, 2025: Dr B R Ambedkar State Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Mohali celebrated World No Tobacco Day with a campus-wide rally and declaration of commitment to continuous anti-tobacco efforts.
The event began with a rally led by MBBS students, nursing students and security staff from the OPD of the District Hospital. The students displayed impressive posters, distributed promotional materials and took a written anti-tobacco pledge affirming their commitment to a tobacco-free future.
The Director Principal, Dr. Bhavneet Bharti, inaugurated the ‘No Tobacco Wall’ and formally announced the implementation of a 100-yard tobacco-free zone around the institution. As per government norms, red lines were clearly marked with the help of engineering departments to indicate the area where sale of tobacco is strictly prohibited. He expressed concern about the increasing use of e-cigarettes among adolescents, despite the ban, and stressed on the moral responsibility of education, awareness by health professionals.
Dr. Anuradha Nadda from the Department of Community Medicine selected and trained student tobacco monitors as per national guidelines. These monitors have not only eliminated tobacco use on campus but have also referred users to the Department of Psychology for help.
Security personnel have been equipped with designated collection boxes to prevent entry of tobacco products into the hospital premises.
Further, AIIMS Mohali will conduct biennial tobacco control activities and complete the Self-Assessment Scorecard for educational institutions as recommended, so that continuous monitoring can be done to maintain a tobacco-free environment.
Those who actively participated in the event included Dr. Navdeep Singh Saini (Medical Superintendent), Dr. Parminder Singh (SMO, District Hospital), Dr. Amit Agarwal (Head, Department of Dentistry), Dr. Amrit Virk and Dr. Anuradha Nadda (Community Medicine), Dr. Ek Ram Goyal (Psychology) and Dr. Harmala (Dental Department) were present.