One of the most-credible International agencies for tobacco research – SRNT - has inducted Lucknow-based Internationally-acclaimed Surgeon and tobacco control crusader - Professor (Dr) Rama Kant - in its Treatment Committee. Prof Rama Kant began the first Tobacco Cessation Clinic (TCC) in late 1990s and was also the first Indian General and Cardio-thoracic Surgeon to be conferred upon the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General’s International award in recognition of his lifetime contribution to tobacco control in the year 2005.

Presently Prof Rama Kant heads the Department of Surgery at Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University (CSMMU - upgraded King George’s Medical College) and is also the Director of the CSMMU Tobacco Cessation Clinic (TCC).

The Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT), head-quartered in the United States of America, encourages scientific research on public health efforts for the prevention and treatment of cigarette and tobacco use. Dr Jean-Francois Etter, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland, who is the co-chair of SRNT Treatment Committee, welcomed Prof Rama Kant to the SRNT Treatment Committee.

“Scientific evidence has unequivocally established that tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke causes death, disease and disability. There is clear scientific evidence that prenatal exposure to tobacco smoke causes adverse health and developmental conditions for children. Secondhand smoke exposure causes heart disease and lung cancer in nonsmoking adults. Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work increase their heart disease risk by 25–30% and their lung cancer risk by 20–30%.There is no risk-free level of secondhand smoke exposure. We can use the existing vast healthcare network of our country in tobacco control, simply by better management and utilization of the existing healthcare staff, at no extra cost. Involvement of health care workers in managing tobacco cessation programmes is a major tool in curbing the tobacco epidemic” says Prof Rama Kant.

“About 10 lakh tobacco-related deaths occur in India alone. 2500 Indians lose their lives each day because of tobacco use. India has the highest number of oral cancer cases in the world and 90% of all oral cancers are tobacco related and 40% of all cancers in India are due to tobacco use. Those who use tobacco should quit tobacco use before it is too late” says Prof Rama Kant.

Prof Rama Kant is the President-elect of the Association of Surgeons of India (ASI), UP, and also heads the Lucknow College of Surgeons (LCS). He is also the recepient of the National award from Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of Government of India (1997), Anushansa Puruskar of UP State government of India (for the years 1998 and 2000) and Birbal Sahini Award (1995).

- Citizen News Service (CNS)