Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

Governor flags off rally against tobacco

By Our Special Correspondent

Hyderabad May 31. The Governor, C.Rangarajan, flagged off a rally at the Raj Bhavan here today, to mark the "World No Tobacco day.'' The function was organised by Mahila Dakshata Samithi, Red Cross, Society for Cancer in oral cavity prevention through education (SCOPE), Confederation of Voluntary Agencies, etc.

The Governor also released a poster brought out by SCOPE. Its managing trustee, B. Chandrakanta Rao, and the trustee, C.N. Varma, asked the Governor to declare "a fight against tobacco, the universal terrorist.'' Students of Helicon Public School actively participated with placards. The Governor gave books on oral cancer and publicity material to B.N. Rao, Director, MNJ Cancer Centre, Vijaya Kumar of Medicity, Vijayananda Reddy of Apollo Hospitals among others.

Cigarette hoardings to be banned

At a separate function, the Minister for Health, N. Janardhan Reddy, said that the Government would henceforth ban hoardings of cigarette companies in the State to implement the anti-smoking Bill provisions strictly.

Inaugurating a workshop on prevention of malaria organised by the Song and Drama Division of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, he said unless people cooperated such legislations would have no meaning. He said he was surprised to find huge hoardings of cigarette companies in the city and would initiate action to remove them.

He urged the Song and Drama division artistes to spread the message of prevention to eradicate malaria throughout the State effectively and also take up a campaign against several other ills. Health, nutrition, hygiene and anti-AIDS campaign were some of the areas that needed greater thrust, he said promising funds to organise more troupes.

Malarial cases had dropped by 40 per cent due to the Government's efforts in the last couple of years but there was a need to create greater awareness among people, particularly, tribals who were falling victim to it every year.

Despite the advances in medical sciences, prevention was the best option open for all to fight ailments like AIDS, malaria and Japanese encephalitis, he said. He welcomed the decision of the Centre to allot 300 programmes on prevention of malaria this year.

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