Thiruvananthapuram: Health minister K K Shylaja Wednesday stressed the need to launch a determined fight against tobacco, which causes a host of terminal illnesses, including cancers.
She also exhorted all to take pledge against tobacco use which is a threat to development.
The Minister called for a targeted campaign to prevent youth from tobacco use initiation, as she inaugurated the state-level observance event of World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) here today.
Shylaja also spoke of efforts to reorient Primary Health Centres to Family Health Centres and said efforts to curb tobacco use can begin through such centres,especially in rural areas where there is profuse prevalence of chewing tobacco.
Ban on e-cigarettes in Kerala is part of the Government s efforts to control tobacco use.
The messages disseminated as part of WNTD should be practised in life every day, she added.
The Minister also inaugurated a year-long awareness programme against tobacco use mooted by the Directorate of Health Services.
The Minister released a short film titled ‘Drug Terrorism’ produced by the Health Department featuring leading Malayalam actors, including Mohanlal.
Dr Ramadas K, Medical Superintendent, RCC said 40 per cent of cancers among men and 20 per cent among women are caused due to tobacco use.