IDA urges government to impose ban on tobacco

Representatives of the Karnataka state and Dakshina Kannada branch of Indian Dental Association (IDA) and Indian Dental Council have urged the State government to impose ban on tobacco 

At the second inter State and 42nd Karnataka State Dental Conference held at Sahyadri College of Engineering and Management at Adyar in Mangaluru on Friday, Dental Council of India President Dr Dibyendu Mazumder said that awareness on dentistry is spreading in rural areas

Along with bieng professional, the dentists should be social as well. Among the cases of cancer 70 to 80 per cent of the cases are oral cancers and in the backdrop of this, it is very significant for the community dentistry to percolate into the rural areas and make the people available with best treatment.

The DCI has written to the chief ministers of all states to recruit dental surgeons at all Primary Health Centres in their respective states.

Serving in rural areas should be made mandatory for students of dentistry. Every dental college should use their resources to provide service in rural areas with respect to oral health.

Indian Dental Association Karnataka state branch President Dr Prabhuji said that the IDA has submitted a plea to the Chief Minister requesting him to increase the price of tobacco based chewing products or impose a complete ban on tobacco in the State.

Dentist Dr Y Bharath Shetty said that under the Dantha Bhagya scheme as a part of the oral health policy of the State government, Rs 500 is provided to the hospitals to provide oral medication to a person belonging to BPL family.

Instead of providing the amount to the hospitals, the government should provide the same to the patients directly, he said. According to WHO report, highest number of preventable deaths is through oral cancer, which is caused by the consumption of tobacco and its products.

He urged the government to take steps to print 90 per cent of warning signature on the packages of cigarette and other tobacco products and only 10 per cent area should be used for advertisement.

Organising Chairman Dr Shivasharan Shetty, Conference Chairman Dr U S Krishna Nayak and IDA Dakshina Kannada branch President Dr Sanath Shetty among others were present.
DH News Service