Inner Wheel District 315 launches Women as Tobacco Marshal

Inner Wheel District 315 launches WOMEN AS TOBACCO MARSHAL

Mrs. Sonal Bhatia, Tobacco MARSHAL leader, introduced “WOMEN as Tobacco MARSHAL” in the Inner Wheel District 315 as part of #SAVETHEYOUTH campaign by ICanCaRe.

District Chairman Mrs. Leela Chandhwani called an online meeting with her district Presidents and Members on “WOMEN AS TOBACCO MARSHALS TO SAVE THE YOUTH” and introduced the concept of Tobacco MARSHALs on 17th March 2023.

40 Presidents and members attended the program.

Dr. Pawan Gupta M.Ch. Founder ICanCaRe and Director of MAX Hospital Delhi said women are the greatest sufferer because of tobacco. The tobacco industry is targeting women in the name of liberation. As primary users, women suffer more than the man. And in this case, as a woman is married to a tobacco user her life is in total topsy turvy. Women suffer the most, and in the present era, they can be the savior of the present and the future generation. Every woman should be empowered as a tobacco MARSHAL to save herself, her family, future generation, and society from the painful prolonged suffering and death due to tobacco.

Mrs. Sonal Bhatia, leader of Tobacco MARSHAL a great motivator and who achieved a target of 1000 tobacco MARSHAL in 5 months during her tenure as DC of 310 was greatly appreciated for her pioneering work as a Tobacco Marshal along with her members. Her unique endeavor to reach out to the rural areas and create sensitization followed by training of 550 tobacco MINI-MARSHALs of NCC girls from the rural background was applauded and sought to be used as an example to follow by all to increase our reach and penetration in the most needed areas in our country.It is important for capacity building, to get more and more girls and women involved as Tobacco MARSHALs or MINI-Emirati Marshals to widen the campaign. (https://www.facebook.com/groups/icancare/permalink/1015483439099535/)

Sonal said, “women can become the shakti against Tobacco by commitment and empowerment by training”.

Mrs. Neelima Jhunjhunwala, President, of the Inner Wheel Club of Guntur Udhaan, was proud to be the first tobacco MARSHAL of IW district 315 and motivated a group of members from her club to be MARSHAL. The group has been conducting programs as MARSHALs in Guntur. “AS MARSHALS WE HAVE BEEN WELCOMED IN SCHOOLS AND HAVE GOT SUPPORT FROM GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES. IT IS A PRESTIZE TO BE A TOBACCO MARSHAL”. She stressed training as MARSHAL empowers them to talk with knowledge.

Tobacco MARSHAL is a responsibility – they

  • MOTIVATE to #besmartdonotstart
  • ADVISE to #quittobacco
  • RECOGNISE #chotadaana #SMF #TrisCaRe
  • SENSITISE to #becarefulandfearful
  • HANDHOLD to #SAVEtheYouth in need
  • ADD to network to #knowtobacco
  • LEAD the change for #TobaccofreeZones

One can become a tobacco MARSHAL by registering at http://www.icancare.in/academy/marshaland getting trained in “BASIC COURSE IN TOBACCO CONTROL” based on the *8R* principles of tobacco control by experts in the field and faculty of ICanCaRe.

Mrs. Leela stressed that tobacco is omnipresent, and it is important that inner wheel members come forward to tame the tambaku-asur. Motivated she urged her presidents to join hands with ICanCaRe to promote Tobacco Control – SAVE the youth from Tobacco and build manpower to work towards the tobacco endgame.

Members expressed their enthusiasm to become TOBACCO MARSHAL and SAVE the youth from the menace of tobacco.

Mrs. Parma Sarma expressed her full support to carry on this project. She is in the media and would be able to create an impact on society.

Mrs. Maya Chandwani PDC said this topic is very close to her heart and she urged others to join the cause.

The participants interested in the subject evoked numerousquestions. To a question on how can MARSHAL act and change Dr. Pawan Gupta said that each MARSHAL is important, that they start tobacco control from home and go on to increase the area of influence in society.

Mrs. Sonal Bhatia expressed her gratitude as her wish to achieve 10000 tobacco MARSHALS gains momentum with the inner wheel district joining her in her mission to SAVE the youth- NO ONE SHOULD DIE BECAUSE OF TOBACCO.

It is really heartening to note that district 315 of Inner Wheel is involved with District Chairman, Mrs. Leela Chandwani is all set in taking the lead. She assured that more and more members will get involved.

1. To become a tobacco MARSHAL one has to register on www.icancare.in/academy/marshaland pay a fee of Rs.1450/-. The course would be conducted by experts as per guidelines that will be followed for a standardized and timely upgraded course by ICanCaRe.

2. Knowledge – 4 hours of live interaction in 2 hours sessions. 8 modules. By experts.

3. The Topic will contain the following encompassing the following requirements: RELEVANCE, RISK, REWARDS, ROADBLOCKS, RECOGNITION, RESPOND, REFER, and RESPONSIBILITY

The journey has become for the NARI SHAKTI to end the menace of tambaku-Ashur

#innerwheel #innerwheel315 #innerwheel310 #sonalbhatia #Leelachandhwani #praveshsingh #pawagupta #reenarkumar #tobaccomarshal #icancare #womenhealthinitiative #womenhealth #tobaccomarshal #savetheyouth #icancareacademy

7th  ICanCaRe Tutorial for Certified Tobacco Cessation Specialists

The Seventh Tutorial for Certified Tobacco Cessation Specialists was conducted on 15th March 2023 Monday 9-10 pm. The program was hosted by –

Tutorial Co-ordinator – Dr. Mariya Tambawala, Dr. Siddhi Hathiwala, Dr. Monalee and Dr. Nikita Dwivedi

27 CTCS participated in the tutorial

Agenda for discussion were

 ” PHOTOBIOMODULATION”

For oral cavity lesions presented by Dr Rajkumari Sachdeva head and neck surgeon and CTCS and along with Dr Jnanashree Bhat of Novalese.

#advisequittobacco should be promoted at all places.

We welcome participants to Contact for difficult case discussion to solve them together:

Tutorial Co-ordinator – Dr. Mariya Tambawala 9924259452 dr.mariyasham@gmail.com

Dr. Siddhi Hathiwala 8959215915 | Dr. Monalee 9969403133 | Dr. Nikita Dwivedi 6394047903

MASTER TRAINER – Dr. Pawan Gupta M.Ch.

#ICanCaRe #icancareacademy #pawangupta #tobaccocessation #tutorial

Dilemma of a Doctor – Advise to Quit or Not?

Dilemma of a doctor – A 44 year old tobacco chewer with advance stage of cancer – should he be asked to quit tobacco???

Author – Dr. Monalee Prasad, BDS(2007), PGD in Aesthetic Dentistry (2009),TII -IDA(2020) ,OCTC (2021), CTCS (2021).

This is a case of a 44 year-old male patient suffering from Stage IV recurrent oral cancer with extensive neck and systemic metastasis. He was being treated somewhere in Uttarakhand. He attended OPD for treatment. He has been a chronic chewer and smoker for years and he continues to do so even after being diagnosed with advanced cancer with a short life expectancy. Besides the palliative treatment, the big question is about his tobacco – Should we ask him to quit? Or should we not ask him to quit?

How should we plan his treatment with regards to tobacco cessation?

The case was put for discussion during the tutorial for Certified Tobacco Cessation Specialists were – different difficult cases that we come across in Tobacco Cessation practice and their treatment are planned. It was a mixed opinion with more suggesting  that the patient should be told to quit tobacco.

The same question was put in the group who are actively working for tobacco control and the majority said that the above patient needs to quit so that the treatment will be helpful and the organs will respond better to treatment.

Now opinion from group of oncologists was seeked, unanimously they said there is no need for him to quit tobacco.

The argument put forth by was that with Stage IV cancer there is no hope of his long survival and it will not be of much help at this juncture to force him to quit. Also the handling of withdrawal symptoms is more difficult in this case along with the Palliative care that has to be provided. It will not improve the quality of life of this already dying patient.

Hence, it wouldn’t matter whether we advise him to quit or not. It would be his wish.

Also, in case we are able to convince him to quit; there are two case scenarios which were discussed and how we can use it as a positive messaging for the next generation.

One scenario is where he is able to quit completely and then the message that can be conveyed through him that even though he suffered from taking tobacco and has reached the last stage of his life, he could quit his habit with the help of our esteemed doctors. And if he can do it, anyone at any stage can do it and the sooner one quits, the better it is for health.

Second case scenario is when he is unable to quit despite all the efforts by the doctors and himself and he continues to smoke till his last breath. The message that we can pass on in this situation is that Tobacco is a deadly disease and really addictive one. Message is clear for the youngsters and family members – never to start such a habit and quit as early as possible. BE SMART DO NOT START and if you have then please QUIT.

So, an important learning was shared via this case by Dr. Pawan as to how to choose the messaging we need to convey to the society at large and always choose the treatment keeping the patient’s overall benefit in mind.

Medical treatment is available to quit tobacco and treatment from the cessation specialists should be seeked.

Do share your thoughts on this in the comments below? What would be your choice of treatment?