A red flag for women smokers

The evils of tobacco are known. But the special threat that it holds for women was the focus of attention at a panel discussion on World No Tobacco Day at a Bandra hotel.

The evils of tobacco are known. But the special threat that it holds for women was the focus of attention at a panel discussion on World No Tobacco Day at a Bandra hotel.

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Cancer Patients’ Aid Association and Chaudhary Mangal Singh Trust came together on Saturday to highlight the dangers of tobacco, and how women are especially vulnerable.

“Tobacco is bad for men and women both, but with women it takes on a whole new dimension because it affects their children too,” said Vineet Gill Munish, representing the World Health Organisation (WHO).

She pointed out the influence is not only physical, but also psychological due to the kind of example that a mother who smokes sets for her child.

With the incidence of tobacco-related diseases increasing in recent decades, the discussion also turned to the fatality of tobacco. “It should not take a personal tragedy for us to wake up,” said actor Vivek Oberoi, who was on the panel. “Smoking should be made uncool so that youngsters are not tempted.” Others on the panel were MP Priya Dutt, actor Neetu Chandra, music composers Salim-Sulaiman and model-actor Milind Soman.