The Drug De-addiction and Treatment Centre, PGIMER, Chandigarh organised an exhibition focusing on harms of tobacco on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day on 31st May 2012. The objective of this campaign was to educate the patients regarding the adverse impact of tobacco, keeping in view the high prevalence of abuse of tobacco in India. The doctors of the centre explained all the patients regarding the harmful effects of smoked as well as smokeless forms of tobacco.
The students of the National Institute of Nursing Education, PGIMER prepared posters on the issue which were displayed in the DDTC. The posters were highly acclaimed and admired by the patients and their relatives. In addition, a short video was shown to the patients, which further elaborated on the consequences of tobacco use on the individual as well as the society.
The lively video engrossed the audience which was found very motivating. The patients raised their queries which were patiently explained in detail by the doctors of the DDTC. Many patients and their relatives immediately sought help deciding to quit tobacco and live a tobacco free life. In the end, the patients took a pledge that they will never use tobacco in any form in their lifetime. In addition, they also volunteered to become the ambassadors to help create awareness among public against tobacco use and to work to make this world tobacco-free.