In observance of World No Tobacco Day 2026, the Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, organized a series of awareness programmes in its Urban Health Training Centre (UHTC) and Rural Health Training Centre (RHTC) field practice areas and in Aland Taluka Hospital on 3^rd June 2026 and in Harsur Village on 13^th June 2026 and again in UHTC field practice area on 16^th June under the guidance of Dr. Guruprasad K Y (Dean, FOMS).

The programmes aimed to educate the community about the health hazards of tobacco use, promote tobacco cessation services, and strengthen public commitment towards a tobacco-free society.

Objectives

1. To increase awareness regarding the harmful effects of tobacco consumption.

2. To educate the public about tobacco-related diseases and their prevention.

3. To promote tobacco cessation and healthy lifestyle practices.

4. To motivate community members, especially youth, to refrain from initiating tobacco use.

5. To disseminate information regarding available tobacco cessation services.

Activities Conducted

1. Health Education Sessions

Interactive health education talks were delivered focusing on:

• Types of tobacco products commonly used in the community.

• Health consequences of smoking and smokeless tobacco consumption.

• Risks of oral cancer, lung cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and other tobacco-related illnesses.

• Benefits of quitting tobacco at any age.

• Tobacco cessation counseling services available at healthcare facilities.

 2. Demonstration and Counselling

Interns and faculty provided individual and group counseling sessions. Visual aids depicting the harmful effects of tobacco on oral and systemic health were used to enhance understanding.

3. Pledge against Tobacco Use

Participants were encouraged to take a pledge to abstain from tobacco consumption and to motivate family members and friends to avoid tobacco products.

Outcome

The programme witnessed enthusiastic participation from community members and healthcare personnel. Participants actively engaged in discussions and expressed increased awareness regarding tobacco-related health risks. Several tobacco users showed interest in seeking cessation support and counseling services.

Conclusion

The World No Tobacco Day awareness programmes conducted by the Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, at UHTC and RHTC field practice areas, Aland Taluka Hospital and Harsur Village were successful in educating the community about the adverse effects of tobacco use and the benefits of tobacco cessation. Through health education sessions, counseling activities, IEC distribution, and community participation, the programmes effectively promoted the message of a tobacco-free society.

The Department remains committed to continuing health promotion activities and strengthening tobacco control efforts through community-based interventions and awareness programmes.

All these activities were organized under the supervision of Dr. Shahnaz Shaheen (Professor & Head) and Dr. M A Fahim (Professor), Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, KBN University