World No Tobacco Day Conference and Webinar

The Carcinogenesis Foundation (USA & INDIA), Oral Cancer Research Centre, FDS, RUAS, INDIA and Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, INDIA

World No Tobacco Day Conference

The Carcinogenesis Foundation (USA & INDIA), Oral Cancer Research Centre, INDIA and Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, INDIA conducted an International Joint Conference to Commemorate WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY on 31st MAY 2021. Essay competition and artwork (drawing/painting) competition were conducted for UG, PG and Staff Categories. An overwhelming response of over 430 participants was observed from all over India. After rigorous initial review the selected entries were chosen for the award round adjudged by subject experts. The prize winners were given certificates and awards.

Day Events Winners

World No Tobacco Day Webinar

The Carcinogenesis Foundation (USA & INDIA), Oral Cancer Research Centre, INDIA and Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, INDIA also conducted a Collaborative International Webinar on 31st MAY 2021with active involvement of 400 participants. A total of 619 registrations were received.

The plenary (Global Status and challenges on the War against Tobacco) was delivered by Mr. Chris Bostic, who is ASH’s (ACTION ON SMOKING & HEALTH) Policy Director, and has been working in global tobacco control since 2001 when he attended the negotiations for the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control as a civil society international law expert. Chris has worked on tobacco policy at the local, state, national and international levels. Prior to joining ASH, he worked with the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and the American Lung Association, where he helped to develop SLATI (State-Legislated Actions on Tobacco Issues), which is a national database of tobacco control regulations. He has also served as a clinical instructor at the University of Maryland School of Law. In 2009, Chris led the efforts of an international coalition to redevelop a civil society shadow reporting program for the FCTC, culminating in the periodic publication of Tobacco Watch, which tracks global implementation of the treaty. He became Deputy Director of ASH in 2012. In his current position, Chris oversees the development and implementation of ASH’s programs including human rights, tobacco endgame and legal liability. He also serves as a member of the board of directors of the Human Rights and Tobacco Control Network, and is a founding member of the Tobacco Control Legal Consortium. Chris holds a juris doctorate from the Washington College of Law, and a master of science in foreign service from Georgetown University.

His presentation and thoughts concerning policy matters have ignited the minds of several policymakers present in this webinar who wish to implement such programmes in their respective universities. Also, his work noble should be a blue print for all to follow in this field. The next lecture (Effects of Tobacco on Health) was delivered by Dr. Sowmya SV, Associate Professor, Department of Oral Pathology & Microbiology, Faculty of Dental Sciences, Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bengaluru. Dr. Sowmya SV is currently heading the department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, at Faculty of Dental Sciences, Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences. She is also the head of the Oral Cancer Research Centre. She has over 10 years of experience in academics and research and is currently pursuing PhD. She has over 50 publications to her credit in indexed and peer- reviewed journals. Her expertise includes Histopathology, Cytopathology, Diagnosis of Oral precancer and Cancer and Metastatic risk assessment of Oral Cancer. Her areas of interest include Oral Oncology, Diagnostic Pathology, Forensic Odontology, and Oral Potentially Malignant disorders. She is also a life Member of Indian Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathologists. It was indeed a comprehensive presentation encompassing epidemiology, forms of tobacco, oral lesions and the effect on general health.

A unique “Tobacco and Health video presentation” was presented by Dr. Diya Jayanth, Dr. Anisha Fernandes & Dr. Kashish Tak, Interns, FDS, RUAS emphasizing the details about smoking cessation. They emphasized the details about smoking cessation, indeed very helpful for someone looking to quit tobacco consumption. The video message was loud and clear, and in line with the theme of the webinar and the day events – that’s Light a Lamp of Enlightenment, not a Cigar of Disease. Within a short duration the video reiterated the destructive cascade that would unfold if one embraces tobacco consumption. These motivational videos indeed push individuals to commit to quit tobacco.

A short presentation by the top 3 winners of the essay competition was another highlight of the webinar.

To make this webinar unique we invited the prize winners of the essay competition to share their thoughts about the topic chosen by them and their content through which they expressed themselves. Dr. Manan Arora & Dr. Annie John (Postgraduate student from Manipal college of dental sciences) and Ms. Shivani Japatti, undergraduate student from Bapuji Dental College and Hospital, Davangere shared the contents of their essay and their thoughts. It was very nice to see the youth have strong awareness against the consumption of tobacco. They are the best ambassadors for creating NO Tobacco awareness in society too as consumption of tobacco begins at an early age.

The webinar was directed by Prof. Gopala Kovvali, Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Carcinogenesis; Founder President, Carcinogenesis Foundation; Adjunct Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, UTHealth-McGovern Medical School and UT Health Science Centre, Houston, Texas, USA and Dr. K. Pavithran, Professor and Head, Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, India. Dr. Vanishri Haragannavar (Assistant Professor, RUAS) announced the prize winners of the day events. Dr. Dominic Augustine (Associate Professor, RUAS) delivered the vote of thanks. He thanked the event directors and organizers, a special thanks wan mentioned to Honourable Vice Chancellor Dr. Kuldeep K Raina, Pro-Vice Chancellor – Research, Prof. Govind R Kadambi, Pro-Vice Chancellor - Health Sciences, Dr. DC Sundaresh, Registrar - Prof M Saibaba and Dean-FDS, Dr. B V Sreenivasa Murthy for being encouraging with their valuable inputs and providing support in organizing the day events and the webinar. A note of thanks was addressed to the speakers of the webinar Dr. Chris Bostic and Dr. Sowmya SV.

Deans and Heads of all specialties of dental colleges and medical institutes all over India and abroad were thanked for encouraging their students & staff to participate in great numbers in this global event and making it successful. The vote of thanks also mentioned the Staff/student participants and winners of the Day events and the wonderful audience of the Webinar without whom this conference & webinar would have not been possible.

A note of thanks was extended to Mr. Jesudas Anthoney, Manager Programme Operations, for his timely help and all the technical support. I also thank the ICT dept of our university Mr. Nagesh, Mr. Lokesh and Mr. Rakesh who have ensured smooth sailing.

A special mention was made about the OCRC members especially the coordinators Dr. Diya Jayanth and Dr. Anisha Fernandes who did a marvellous job and worked round the clock to coordinate the day events and the webinar catering to all needs and queries of the participants