We all know that consumption of tobacco is the leadine preventable cause of death worldwide and also akey factor in lung cancer, heart attack and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

We all know that consumption of tobacco is the leadine preventable cause of death worldwide and also akey factor in lung cancer, heart attack and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Since tobacconcontains nicotine, which is addictive, it makes the process of quitting often very prolonged and difficurOn the occasionWorld No Tobacco Day (31″ May, 2024), Ruby Cancer Centre, a unit of Ruby GeneralaHospital, Kolkata, had organized a colourful walk on 30th May, 2024, to encourage people in quittingtobacco and fighting the tobacco epidemic. Ruby Cancer Care and Research Foundation, had also been anpart of this event and shared on what you can do, make a pledge and take various actions to reduce theimpact that Head and Neck cancer has on individuals, families and communities.

There were more than 250 participants in the rally and cancer survivours, who are the real celebrities hada

been felicitated by the celebrities of other fields and eminent personalities. Quite a few of the cancerasurvivours had been nominatedcrusaders who will bear the responsibility to take an active role ingraising awareness and helping people to quit tobacco. Ruby Hospital will support these crusaders bysharing knowledge, leaflets, brochures and helping in organizing awareness programmes in their respectiverlocalities. An important announcement had been made for Free Tobacco Cessation Counseling at RubyGeneral Hospital, where people can avail this facility to quit tobacco, thus leading a healthy lifestyle. RubyaCancer Care and Research Foundation will also write to the central and state authorities to stop selling andaconsumption of all tobacco products within a 100 yards of any government and private hospitals likeCigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 (COTPA) has done for the schools and colleges.Around 20 cancer survivors and their families both from the country as well as international cancersurvivors, namely, from Bhutan, had participated in the walk along with nurses, hospital staff, students ofRuby Nursing School and College and eminent Oncologists. Many well known personalities like actorsPhalguni Chatterjee, Subhasish Mukherjee, Arindam Sil, Sudeshna Roy, Anindya Banerjee, singer SaikatMitra, eminent sports personalities like Dola Banerjee, Anit Ghosh, Pritam Kotal and many others had alsojoined. Large number of people from all walks of life had also participated in generating awareness among

the people.

Looking forward to you to highlight this exclusive effort through your esteemed media and raise awarenessamong common people regarding quitting tobacco in all forms.

Thanking you,