Manipal Hospitals East celebrated World No Tobacco Day with a comprehensive awareness initiative and Principals’ Conclave, bringing together healthcare professionals, educators, students, and celebrities on one platform to spark meaningful dialogue about the dangers of smoking and the need for a tobacco-free future as discussions about tobacco consumption become more urgent across the nation. The program’s main goals were to promote healthy lifestyle choices, raise awareness of prevention, and emphasize how institutions, families, and communities all have a part to play in creating healthier generations.

The conclave also emphasized the significance of early intervention, counseling, and ongoing awareness in assisting young people in making educated and healthier life decisions through enlightening talks and engaging interactions.

The event was graced by eminent personalities like Dr. Kunal Sarkar, Director & Senior Consultant – Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery, Manipal Hospitals Mukundapur Cluster, Dr. Dilip Kumar, Director & Senior Consultant – Interventional Cardiology, Manipal Hospital EM Bypass, Dr. Sourav Datta, Director Manipal Oncology Services & Sr Consultant Head Neck Oncology Surgeries, Manipal Hospital EM Bypass, Dr. Debraj Jash, Director – Pulmonology, Manipal Hospital EM Bypass, Dr. Harsh Dhar, HOD & Senior Consultant – Head & Neck Surgery, Dr. Kinshuk Chatterjee, Consultant – Head & Neck Surgery, Dr. Sudeep Das, HOD & Senior Consultant – Medical Oncology, Dr. Debanjali Datta, Consultant – Radiology; and Ms. Arunima Datta, Clinical Psychologist at Manipal Hospital EM Bypass participated in the initiative.

The programme was also attended by Mr. Deepak Venugopal, Regional COO, South & East Region, Manipal Hospitals, Dr. Ayanabh Debgupta, Regional Director – East Region, Manipal Hospitals, renowned singer Anupam Roy, actor Debapriyo Mukherjee, Dr. Jaydeep Sarangi, Principal – New Alipore College, Dr. Indrila Guha, Principal – Basanti Devi College, Prof. Basab Chaudhuri, Principal – Heritage Institute of Technology, and Dr. Subir Sen, Principal – Bhawanipore Global Campus School of Business Management.

Young voices were added to the discussion about tobacco awareness and prevention through the participation of students from Jadavpur University and Loreto College.

Expert-led talks on the negative impacts of smoking and health precautions for students were presented at the conclave. Physicians from the departments of pulmonology, cardiology, and oncology discussed the growing health risks linked to tobacco use and emphasized the significance of early intervention and behavioral awareness. Two interesting panel discussions on cooperative efforts to combat smoking addiction and the role of celebrities and social influence in promoting healthier lifestyle choices among young people were also included in the program.

“Awareness programs like these play a significant role in shaping behavioral change among the younger generation. Collaborative efforts between colleges and healthcare facilities can have long-term effects, and educational institutions have a significant impact on helping students make healthier choices. Tobacco addiction has an impact on social and emotional well-being in addition to physical health, so a comprehensive approach to the problem is crucial,” said Dr. Kunal Sarkar.

Anupam Roy said, “Celebrities have a responsibility too. Celebrity advertisements harm society much more than what is shown in films. In films, the actors portray a role. However, when they do an advertisement, they are lending their personal image to the product, and as a result, people get influenced. One must be careful about what they are promoting”.

To promote healthier lifestyle choices and lessen the rising burden of tobacco-related diseases, they aimed to have meaningful conversations with students, educators, healthcare professionals, and public figures through this initiative.

Priyanka Dutta