A pack of Harley Davidson bikers participate in a rally as part of the World No Tobacco Day.
Over 50 Harley Davidson bikers took part in rally on Sunday morning as part of an anti-tobacco campaign organised by the BGS Global Hospitals along with the state health department and the Harley Davidson bike owners association.
Observing the ‘World No Tobacco Day’, the 17-km rally was flagged off from Queens Circle in Cubbon Park to BGS Global Hospitals on Uttarahalli Road. The bikers displayed placards depicting the ill-effects of using tobacco-related products and even obtained the signatures of passersby to be part of the anti-tobacco initiative.
“28% of the population in Karnataka use tobacco-related products. We have been looking at reducing its use in the state through various methods. This is one of them. We are tying up with private hospitals and NGOs to set the ball rolling. We are also making sure that schools and education department officials ensure that there is no use of tobacco 100 metres around the school premises. Apart from this, we are trying to tie up with the police department to make it more stringent,” said VB Patil, commissioner of heath and family welfare.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr NK Venkataramana, vice-chairman and chief neurosurgeon of BGS Global Hospitals, said: “We have tied up with the anti-tobacco cell. We are working on models to involve NGOs, human resource, health care related individuals and hospitals to implement anti-tobacco campaigns. This unique event presented a fun filled awareness activity for the present day youth. You need not be a smoker to be cool,” he said.
Vishal Rao, head and neck oncology surgeon of BGS Global Hospitals, said: “Because of the increasing usage of tobacco among the youth in Karnataka, it is important to increase awareness on the preventable causes of cancer such as tobacco consumption. Presently in Karnataka, 10 to 12% of the youth consume tobacco, and the age of initiation to this habit is presently seen from 10 years onwards. This could possibly be the reason why we are seeing many cases of cancers in the younger age group.”
Dr Vishal, who rides a Harley Davidson, was also part of the rally.
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