Date:01/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/01/stories/2007060118160500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Involve women in campaign against smoking: Minister

Special Correspondent

`World No Tobacco Day' observed

STUB IT OUT: NSUI activists burn cigarette packets and a 15-foot-long stick shaped like a cigarette to mark `World No-Tobacco Day ' on Thursday. — PHOTO: P.V. Sivakumar

HYDERABAD: Minister for Medical Education and Health Insurance Galla Aruna Kumari emphasised the need to shun smoking and consumption of tobacco in view of their harmful effects.

Speaking at a function organised in connection with `World No Tobacco Day' by Osmania Medical College Doctors' Forum and House Surgeons Association of Government Dental College and Hospital, she called for involving women's groups in creating awareness about the harmful effects of smoking as the health of women and children gets affected by passive smoking. The Minister advised the Doctors' Forum to come out with a programme to involve women's groups for carrying out a sustained campaign against smoking.

Doctors' forum president K. Suresh was also present.