The event had Indian Medical Association (WB) and Indian Dental Association (WB) as partners
Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Indian Medical Association (WB), and Indian Dental Association (WB) in collaboration with Medica Superspecialty Hospital, recently observed World No Tobacco Day at Uttam Mancha. The event was inaugurated by Firhad Hakim, Mayor, KMC in the presence of Dr Santanu Sen, MP, Past National President &State Secretary, IMA, Advisor, Health Dept, KMC, Dr MA Kasem, President, IMA, Bengal State, Dr Subrata Roychowdhury, CMHO, KMC, and Dr Alok Roy, Chairman, Medica Group. The entire event was organised by Dr Sourav Datta, Director, Medica Cancer Hospital, Treasurer IMA Bengal State, and Dr Raju Biswas, Secretary IDA Bengal state.
Hakim stated, “Though we have prohibited tobacco advertising and regulation in India under the COTPA Act of the Indian Parliament, all of us must come together and eliminate tobacco use in our city to reduce the risk of cancer. While the number of cancer cases is increasing daily, it is also curable if detected early. Let us all join to make Kolkata a cancer-free city.”
Dr Sen mentioned, “The Indian Medical Association has always looked forward to implementing measures for improving public health and medical education in India. On this occasion of World No Tobacco Day, we propose holding free cancer screening camps in each Borough of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, in collaboration with the Indian Dental Association (IDA). Medica Oncology department will play a significant role in this initiative by providing their specialised team of doctors and nurses to perform free breast, cervical, and oral cancer screenings of the patients. These camps will benefit not only current cancer patients but also those who suspect cancer due to a variety of symptoms.”
Dr Biswas stated, “Through our activities in education, research, and the creation of high standards for dental care in India, we at IDA are committed to enhancing public oral health by supporting advanced, science-based dentistry that puts the patient first. Tobacco use has been harming the overall oral and dental health, which can lead to cancer in some cases. These screening camps will almost probably lower the number of cancer cases owing to early detection and treatment.”
Dr Roy averred, “The initiative’s objective is to add many more healthy years to each person’s life by offering accurate and preventative cancer screening services by Medica Superspecialty Hospital. Screening, as we all know, is extremely effective in the prevention and early detection of breast cancer, cervical cancer, and oral cancer. All patients who come to Medica after being screened by our doctors at the Borough office can receive free mammography, oral biopsy, and pap smears.”
Dr Datta said, “The more cigarettes we smoke a day, the higher is our risk of cancer. So, stopping the entire habit of smoking and not indulging in any tobacco products can be a good first step to getting rid of cancer. The once-a-month cancer screening camps in the Borough will be organised to diagnose the three most commonly occurring cancers in India: breast, cervical and oral cancer.”
