The face of the anti-tobacco campaign, Sunita Tomar passes away

Amidst all the noise about deferring the move to display 85% pictorial warnings on packages of all tobacco products, the poster girl for Union Health Ministry's anti-tobacco campaign, Sunita Tomar, lo

By: Poorva Chavan | | Published: April 1, 2015 11:45 am

Amidst all the noise about deferring the move to display 85% pictorial warnings on packages of all tobacco products, the poster girl for Union Health Ministry’s anti-tobacco campaign, Sunita Tomar, lost her life to Oral Cancer on Wednesday. The government was to bring into effect issuing big pictorial warnings on tobacco products from today, April 1, 2015. But due to pressure from the parliamentary committee and the tobacco industry, the government has deferred the move citing reasons that it needs some more time for deliberation and all consider the effects this move will have on all the stakeholders. (Read: WHO: Availability and affordability of locally produced tobacco products a formidable challenge for India) Also Read - World No Tobacco Day: India is the second largest consumer of tobacco products with 28.6 percent, reveals survey

Also Read - What do teenagers think about smoking? Fortis' study reveals stunning findings

The death Sunita Tomar in such a time is a rude awakening. BJP MP Dilip Gandhi was the one to instigate this stay on the 2014 notification. He had requested the health ministry to bring a stay on the order citing reasons that it will affect the livelihood of four crore people who depend on bidi making for their livelihood. He also went one step ahead and said that since no Indian study claims that tobacco is harmful to health and causes oral cancer, the government should consider bringing a stay on this order. Also Read - Parliamentary panel wants to go slow against pictorial warnings on tobacco products

The Indian Express reported that two days before her death, Sunita Tomar, had written to the Prime Minister expressing her shock about Dilip Gandhi’s statement especially when he holds a powerful and a responsible position. In her letter, she wrote that bigger warnings on tobacco packages can probably save some innocent lives like hers. She urged the prime minister to take up the cause of tobacco on his show Mann Ki Baat.

Sunita became the face of the anti-tobacco campaign in 2014. She hailed from rural Madhya Pradesh and started consuming gutkha when she was just 22 years old. She was already in the advanced stage of oral cancer when she first visited the Tata Memorial Hospital for her treatment, where she underwent a surgery for her oral cancer. After her surgery, her doctors pointed out that even though she was cancer free then, her battle was far from over as there are 50% chances of oral cancer recurring. (Read: Anti-tobacco ad will Sunita make a bigger impact than Mukesh)

All of us have seen the video advertisement in which Sunita shared her experience. This advertisement was translated into 17 languages. The hard-hitting video aimed at creating awareness among tobacco users and compel them to quit. The commercial was aired on all government and private TV channels and also cinemas and theatres for five weeks. With her story Sunita managed to create awareness among the nations youth and had an impact on the most important person in her life her husband, who quit tobacco after witnessing his wife s ordeal.

Image & Video source: World Lung Foundation/Youtube.com

Published : April 1, 2015 11:45 am

Read Disclaimer

New study claims that apples are not as healthy as previously believed

Anorexia & bulimia - Eating disorders that harm not just your body

About The health Site

TheHealthSite.com is India's largest health site with more than 40 lakh unique visitors per month. We focus on fitness, beauty, health, pregnancy and more.

Most popular health and wellness website in India in 2012 at the Website of the year awards.

health@corp.india.com

+91 – 22 – 6697 1234

91 – 22 – 2490 0302.

ZEE ENTERTAINMENT ENTERPRISES LTD, 18th floor, A-Wing, Marathon Futurex, N. M. Joshi Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400013.

We respect your privacy

New study claims that apples are not as healthy as previously believed

Anorexia & bulimia - Eating disorders that harm not just your body

World No Tobacco Day: India is the second largest consumer of tobacco products with 28.6 percent, reveals survey

What do teenagers think about smoking? Fortis' study reveals stunning findings

Parliamentary panel wants to go slow against pictorial warnings on tobacco products

Gutka, pan masala & other similar tobacco products banned in Haryana

Maharashtra bans storage, manufacture & sale of all forms of chewable tobacco

About The health Site

Useful Links