It’s anti-tobacco awareness week and the railways are doing its bit to intimate the public about it’s threat. The Southern Railways, as part of its social commitment organised an exhibition on a moving train in the Thiruvananthapuram-Kollam route on Thursday evening, providing details on the ill-effects of tobacco. The debut ‘moving train exhibition’ helped the Railways to take the anti-tobacco message to hundreds of youngsters in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts, according to railway officials.
The exhibits in the train include models of cancer-affected body parts, posters, photographs of organs deteriorated owing to tobacco and drug use. The exhibtion was also aimed at propagating 182, the helpline number of the railways.
An oral cancer detection programme was held as part of the event at the Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station. At the three stopovers- Thiruvananthapuram, Varkala and Kollam, a theme-based street drama, dance and musical plays depicting the effect of tobbaco and smoking from birth to an early death were also conducted.
Another attraction of the event was the screening of a short-film based on the helpline number ‘182’. The film shows how a young woman escape from hooligans who make passes at her on a train.
The event was organised by the medical department of Southern Railways in association with the Thiruvananthapuram chapter of Indian Dental Association(IDA). The exhibit models and posters were designed and developed by students of the PMS Dental College in the capital. Dr Abdul Salam T A, assistant professor, department of public health dentistry, PMS Dental College was the team leader.
NSS unit of Nooral Islam College of Dental Sciences also took part in the awareness programme. The exhibition was inaugurated by Dr Ashok Doble, national secretary-general of IDA. It was attended by Prakash Bhutani, Southern Railway divisional manager, Dr Mary Matha, chief medical officer of southern railway had participated in this awareness programme.
PMS Dental College organised the oral cancer screening camp. It was headed by Dr Shiva Kumar T T, professor of PMS dental college. Dr Captain Vivek, professor oral medical department delivered a talk.
Rescue equipments
A safety exhibition was also held to create awareness about the rescue equipments and other safety measures found inside trains. At Varkala Sivagiri Railway station, students of Sree Sankara Dental College conducted a streetplay about railway security assistance services. Azeezia College students conducted a street drama at Kollam railway station.
The RPF ( Railway Protection Force) and RCC (Regional Cancer Centre) were also an active presence at the event. “We hope the programme helped in creating awareness on the ill-effects of tobacco and train safety to the public,” said Sabu Kurien, state president of IDA.