VICTAS Anti Tobacco Movement in SCHOOL

Health is a key focus area of VICTAS. We are on a mission to make a healthy future for India, for which we are working with school children and making them aware of the need and practices of a healthy living. The Victas Anti Tobacco Movement in School is one such effort to make the school going adolescents aware of the ill-effects of tobacco and the risk of Cancer and also share with them some useful tobacco quitting tips. Our mission is also to extend a helping hand to those already a victim of cancer. Towards this noble goal, we humbly request you for donation, the proceeds of which would be utilized in the treatment of cancer patients unable to bear the mammoth costs.

Every 6.5 seconds someone dies from tobacco use, says the World Health Organization. Research suggests that people who start smoking in their teens (as more than 70 percent do) and continue for two decades or more will die 20 to 25 years earlier than those who never light up.

DO YOU KNOW

• Tobacco related diseases kill 9 lakh people in India every year

• More than 2200 Indians die every day due to tobacco use

• On an average, smokers die 13-14 years earlier than non-smokers

• In India 40% of all cancers are due to tobacco use

• 90% of all oral cancers in India are tobacco related

• 40% of tuberculosis burden in India is attributed to smoking

• Second-hand smoke contains over 4000 chemicals and more than 60 of these are known or suspected to cause cancer

• Cigarette smoke can cause immediate danger by triggering attacks in asthma sufferers

• Smokeless forms of tobacco contain about 28 cancer causing chemicals

• Smokeless tobacco users have higher risk of developing oral cancer

• The common forms in which Tobacco is consumed are –

• Cigarettes, Bidi, Hookah, Gutka, Khaini, Zarda, Pan Massala, Gudhaku etc.

Victas Foundation’s new project under School Health Program focuses on the need to fight against tobacco addiction to save the students from future sufferings of cancer.

HARMFUL EFFECT OF SMOKING

• Hair loss
• Cataracts
• Wrinkling
• Hearing loss
• Cancer
• Tooth decay
• Emphysema
• Osteoporosis
• Heart disease
• Stomach ulcers
• Discoloured fingers
• Uterine cancer and miscarriage
• Deformed sperm

The Project at a Glance

The project has been conceived in view of the fact that tobacco addiction and related health hazards have become a growing menace among the school children. In developing countries particularly, tobacco is a major cause of deaths. As statistics claim, in India, one in ten adolescents, in the age category of 13 to 15 years has ever smoked cigarettes. The risks of tobacco use are highest among those who start at an early age and continue its use.

Various studies have been conducted that document the cause for early age addiction to tobacco. For instance, peer pressures, tobacco addiction of parents and pocket money have been cited as common factors that initiate adolescents into tobacco addiction. Furthermore, in view of the growing propensity to tobacco addiction among the adolescents, the issue has emerged as a significant public health problem.

Thus, it is important to address the issue at the very moment to prevent this vulnerable age group from falling a prey to tobacco addiction. VICTAS Foundation, understanding the problem and the urgency to address the issue, has conceptualized a School Health Programme to sensitize the school children about the ill effects of tobacco addiction from an early age and ways to prevent addiction.

Health Hazards Related to Tobacco Addiction

Some of the health hazards associated with young age smoking are short term. Such problems include respiratory and non-respiratory impacts, nicotine addiction and risks of developing other drug addiction. Moreover, continued addition of tobacco gradually leads to lower level of lung function and rate of lung growth.

• Studies have demonstrated that adolescents who smoke are prone to heart diseases and stroke.
• Shortness of breath is another problem afflicting adolescents addicted to smoke.
• Teens who suffer from tobacco addiction have a greater propensity towards alcohol consumption.
• The most critical health hazard associated with young age smoking is lung cancer.
• Cigarette smoking increases the risk of developing mouth cancers, as well.
• This risk also increases among people who smoke pipes and cigars.

Project Objective

The key objective of the project is to sensitize school students in order to prevent them from developing tobacco addiction. The ultimate aim is to prevent the school students from the sufferings related with prolonged tobacco addiction. Thus, through information dissemination and sensitization, an attempt would be made to curtail the evil at the very inception. Additionally, an effort would be made to provide support towards the treatment of cancer patients.

Project Implementation

Short listing Schools:

The first step would be to make a selection of some schools where the programme would be initiated. Mainly, the CBESC and ICESC School would be selected for the purpose.

Communicating the Idea:

The next step would be communicating the idea of the programme to the school heads and seeking their permission to conduct the programme at the schools.

Roping In Resource Persons:

The resource people in the programme are specialists with expertise in the field of tobacco prevention and tobacco related diseases such as cancer. Renowned Cancer specialists will be involved in the programme who would be the main resource people, assisted by VICTAS Foundation representative. (Panel of resource persons enclosed)

Support to Cancer Patient:

To find out1 or 2 cancer patients from the relatives/neighbours and support them for treatment. Poorest of the poor would be eligible to avail this facility. This would form a bridge among the students, the school, the donor agencies, Victas Foundation as well as the patient’s family.

Project Execution:

Around 12000 students (of class VIII to XI) including the teachers would attend a seminar where the resource people would present power-point presentations, charts, posters; etc to the attendees. The seminar would last for an hour and it would concentrate on the ill effects of tobacco; and various ways to quit tobacco addiction.

Key Benefits of the Programme:

Through this program, the target group would be benefitted in the following ways:

Students would be well aware and they could prevent themselves from falling a prey to tobacco addiction.
Parents can know how to tackle their children and prevent them from getting addicted.

We can save the productive population of the country thereby taking a step further in the country’s progress. The school can work on the statutory order given to them by the C.B.S.E board and very well abide by it.

Support for the Cancer Patients

There is a provision to provide support to the relatives or neighbours who are suffering from cancer.
Poorest of the poor would be the only criteria for selection.