Mumbai’s Prince Aly Khan, the second-best-known hospital for cancer, conducted a survey of 30 civic school students and the results are very shocking. According to the survey, around 27 per cent children are addicts and these children are students of fifth to ninth grade.
The survey is still in the first stage and doctors believe that the survey results might differ.
Post-Prince Aly Khan’s survey, the BMC has planned to dissuade children from smoking for which various campaigns will be carried out and in the month of December, children will be given a topic to write on anti-addiction. Also, drawing competitions, discussions with parents and children, poster competitions will be organised.
Mumbai Live spoke to Dr Kranti Raymane, Community Health Service and Research department head and Gynaecologist, Prince Aly Khan Hospital, to know what measures one can take to dissuade children from smoking.
There should not be any shop selling cigarettes or tobacco related products at the distance of 50 to 100 meters within the school, if found, then action will be taken against such shops.
The major side-effect of smoking at a young age is that they fall prey to cancer at a very early age. They also become addicts which go beyond counselling.
When children come home, spend at least half-an-hour with them, discuss aftereffects of addiction and smoking. Know who are his/her friends and them about their daily activities.
We should see to it that we raise our children in a good environment and with good people around. Also, make your children understand that cigarettes or alcohol are not good for health. So, next time if they see cigarettes, they will not feel like touching it.
Dr Raymane added that in order to dissuade children, people themselves who smoke should give up and educate children to do the same.
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