Thursday, May 30, 2019

P.D Hinduja Hospital & MRC proposes Mumbai’s First ‘No Smoking Street’


More than 3500 Mumbaikars pledge their support via the signature campaign to declare a part of the iconic Cadel Road (Veer Savarkar Marg) as a no smoking street  

P. D. Hinduja Hospital & Medical Research Centre announced the launch of a first of its kind initiative in the city, a proposal for Mumbai’s first ‘No Smoking Street’. The hospital proposes to declare the 1.8 km stretch on Cadel road between the Kaapad Bazaar Junction (including the PN Kotnis Rd) and Chaityabhoomi (Sant Dyaneshwar Marg) as a No Smoking Street. This stretch houses a hospital, school, a religious institution, parks and the iconic Shivaji Park playground. The aim is to protect the schoolchildren, patients, senior citizens, sportspersons and the residents from the harmful effects of passive smoking.

To garner public support, the hospital launched an on-ground as well as online (via its social media handles) signature campaign. Mascots garbed as cigarettes handed out pamphlets, urging the citizens to sign the petition for Mumbai’s first ‘No Smoking Street’ in interest of the health and wellbeing of the citizens. As of now a total of 3500 people with their signatures have pledged support to the initiative of a No Smoking Street. The hospital will now be submitting a petition to the Shri. Devendra Fadnavis, Hon. Chief Minister of Maharashtra urging the government to take the step.

Mr. Joy Chakraborty, COO, P.D. Hinduja Hospital & MRC said, “We feel proud to spearhead this initiative that calls for Mumbai’s first ‘No Smoking Street’. We launched this campaign in the interest of citizens who are passively being exposed to the harmful effects of smoking. We would also like to encourage citizens of Mumbai to get involved by signing the petition and having a say in creating a healthy environment. For us, this is a big step towards being a precursor for change and we hope to drive more such initiatives in the future as well. This concept can be further extended to other streets as well which have similar institutions.”

According to WHO, more than 10 million people die every year due to tobacco related illnesses. Currently, India is home to 12% of the world’s smokers. “Nicotine is a highly addictive chemical, and most individuals who smoke, despite wanting to quit, find it extremely difficult to do so. The withdrawal effects, including irritability, a lack of concentration, and constant cravings are what people experience when they try to quit, and failing to sustain such quit attempts is what makes individuals lose their confidence in being able to quit. Social initiatives, such as creating smoke free zones, disincentives such as taxation and warnings on packs, along with adequate behavioural and medication support is what individuals need to help them overcome the addiction,” Dr. Lancelot Pinto, Consultant Respirologist, and Head - Tobacco Cessation Clinic, P. D. Hinduja Hospital & MRC.

This year, the global theme for World No Tobacco Day focuses on tobacco and lung health, where the focus is on tobacco use and its grave effects on lung health. Of the 4,800 chemicals used in tobacco, 69 are known to cause cancer.  Smoking also damages the lining of your arteries, leading to a build-up of fatty material that narrows the arteries causing angina, heart attack or stroke. Despite, the harmful effects of tobacco being well documented, the city has only seen a rise in tobacco usage. This is an attempt by P.D. Hinduja Hospital to help reduce tobacco usage in the city and help protect vulnerable citizens from the harmful effects of passive smoking.

About P.D. Hinduja Hospital & Medical Research Centre:
P.D. Hinduja Hospital and Medical Research Center, which started off as a clinic in 1951, is today ranked as one of the leading Multi-Specialty tertiary care hospital in the country. For over six decades, this institute has worked to ensure that world-class healthcare delivery is provided to all. The hospital has always been an early adopter of technology in delivery of care; being amongst the first few hospitals in the country to have Gama Knife technology, Digital Broadband MRI with ambient themes, True Beam Linear Accelerator and more. The hospital has on-board some of the best nationally and internationally recognized doctors. Quality care being the focus, it was amongst the early few hospitals that has been accredited and certified by NABH, CAP, and ISO. P.D. Hinduja Hospital was also one of the pioneers in its space to launch Care@Home and Short Stay Service in 2007 and 2008 respectively. It continues to partner with leading International Institutes, latest being an arrangement with The Division of AIDS (NIAID, NIH), U.S.A, to establish a center of excellence for infectious disease research in India. For its contribution to quality healthcare delivery, the hospital has also been bestowed with Best Multi-Specialty Hospital awards by different industry bodies. In line with one of its guiding principles “Work to Give”, the hospital runs the Serve with Passion rural health programme, under which free healthcare services are provided to the tribal areas in Maharashtra.