SOA University Declares its Campuses as Tobacco-Free

SOA University Declares its Campuses as Tobacco-Free
05 Feb, Bhubaneswar
Experts at SOA University on Wednesday advocated choice of a healthy lifestyle to keep away from cancer saying around one-third of all carcinomas could be prevented through diet and physical activity even as the University declared all its campuses tobacco-free zones.
The announcement, coinciding with the World Cancer Day, was made by the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Amit Banerjee, aiming at ensuring zero consumption of tobacco products within the university precincts.
“No one is expected to consume tobacco products within the campuses and it will be voluntary till May 31, which is the World No Tobacco Day. After that penalty will be imposed,” Prof. Banerjee said while speaking at the Cancer Survivors’ Day event organized at the Institute of Medical Sciences and Sum Hospital, run by the University.
Prof. Banerjee said the University would also seek the assistance of the police, municipal and civic authorities to ensure that no tobacco products were sold within a radius of 100 metres from its campuses.
Dr. Sunil Agrawala, surgical oncologist at the hospital, said India was the 2nd largest consumer of tobacco products. Detection of cancer at an advanced stage, economic deprivation of the victims and poor nutritional and immune status greatly hampered the treatment, he said.
Eminent danseus Ananda Shankar Jayant, an exponent of Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi styles, who had been detected with breast cancer in 2008 and “danced through” her condition, said it was the affected person’s attitude which mattered the most.
Eminent film maker Sushant Mani, Dr.Soumya Surath Panda, Dean of IMS and Sum Hospital Prof. D.K.Roy, Medical Superintendent Dr. P.K.Mohanty and Dean of Institute of Dental Sciences, Dr. Neeta Mohanty addressed the gathering.