AMU organized a Workshop on "World No Tobacco Day"

The Department of Community Medicine, J.N. Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University organized a Workshop on "World No Tobacco Day" at the Rural Health Training Centre (RHTC) of AMU, Jawan. Inaugurating the workshop, AMU Vice Chancellor Lt. General Zameer Udddin Shah, appreciated the functioning of the department and expressed happiness over the fact that health care services were provided to the poor free of cost. He congratulated the staff of the department for their efforts even in a remote area of Aligarh.

He asked the participants to encourage the people to quit tobacco smoking and chewing. He also visited the site of the boundary wall which was demolished by the local land mafia. He assured that it will be constructed very soon. Mr. Raj Kumar Singh, a prominent local person whose family had donated the land to the Department of Community Medicine, requested the Vice Chancellor to start a Pharmacy College on the land available at RHTC. Earlier, Dr. M. Athar Ansari, Organizing Chairman while welcoming the guests and participants observed that Rural Health Training Centre of AMU was one of the best training centres in northern India and it has been engaged in serving the poor with complete dedication.

Professor Zulfia Khan, Coordinator of the Programme presented an overview of the workshop and discussed the objectives of the workshop. Prof. M. Ashraf Malik, Principal and Chief Medical Superintendent, J. N. Medical College and Hospital appreciated the efforts made by the department in carrying out various health related activities in the field practice areas of the department and ranked the department as one of the most vibrant departments of the Medical College. Dr. M. Salman Shah, Organizing Secretary made a presentation highlighting various health care services available to the people. He also presented the data of patients getting treatment.

In the scientific session, presentations on various aspects of tobacco related health problems and their prevention and WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) and the Government of India Initiatives taken under National Tobacco Control Programme were given by Dr. Nafiz, Dr. Nadeem and Dr. Srikanta. Health education sessions were also carried out in different villages, such as Jawan, Sumera and Tejpur regarding hazards of tobacco consumption. Dr. Salman Khalil, Dr. Saira Mehnaz, Dr. Arshiya Massod, senior and junior residents, interns posted at RHTC, nonteaching staff, and local people, attended the programme. In the valedictory function Prof. Afzal Ahmad, former Dean, Faculty of Unani Medicine presented a poem written by him on hazards of tobacco and its prevention. Dr. Asma Ali conducted the programme while Dr. Iqbal M. Khan, In-charge of RHTC, proposed the vote of thanks.