Sensitisation counselling program on tobacco health conducted by Government Dental College and Hospital Srinagar at Fire and emergency headquarters Srinagar on occasion of World No Tobacco

 
Srinagar, May 31, 2025: In observance of World No Tobacco Day 2025, the Department of Public Health Dentistry, Government Dental College, Srinagar, organized a comprehensive awareness, sensitisation and counselling program about ill effects of Tobacco at the Headquarters of Fire and Emergency Services, Batmaloo, Kashmir. Under the guidance of principal/Dean Government Dental College and Hospital Srinagar Professor Dr Sandeep kaur Bali, this event was organised in collaborative effort of department of public health dentistry and health centre fire and emergency headquarters Srinagar. The event aimed to highlight the adverse health effects of tobacco use and to encourage tobacco cessation among fire and emergency service personnel, who are among the frontline workers.

The event featured an awareness seminar focused on the ill effects of tobacco consumption, including its strong association with life-threatening diseases such as oral cancer, heart disease, and respiratory disorders. The seminar was organized by the Department of Public Health Dentistry, Government Dental College, Srinagar. Dr Aasim Farooq Shah presented the comprehensive seminar and informative session regarding  tobacco use, addiction it’s implications on health. The chief guest for the program, Mr. Raj Kumar, Deputy Director of Fire and Emergency Services, presided over the event. He also briefed the gathering about the effects of Tobacco and also insisted about need for such programs on regular basis. This program was conducted in joint effort by health centre of fire and emergency services jammu and kashmir and Dr. Ibrar Bashir Medical officer incharge successfully supervised and supported this program. 
 
The program was attended by more than 100 personnel from the Fire and Emergency Services, who were sensitized to the importance of tobacco-free living. As part of the program, oral health examinations were planned to screen for pre-malignant conditions associated with tobacco use. Counselling sessions were available for Participants with one-on-one tobacco cessation counseling by specialists from the Department of Public Health Dentistry, reinforcing the message of prevention and early intervention.
In addition to the central event at the Fire and Emergency Headquarters in Srinagar, the Department of Public Health Dentistry extended its outreach by organizing simultaneous awareness campaigns at various peripheral satellite centers across the Kashmir region. These included Sallar, Tangmarg, Fakir Gujri, Bagh-e-Islam, and Kalantra, where dental professionals and community health workers engaged local populations through health talks and screenings.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Aasim Farooq Shah, Head of the Department of Public Health Dentistry, emphasized, ‘Tobacco use remains one of the most preventable causes of death. It is crucial to educate individuals, particularly those in high-risk groups, about the dangers of tobacco and to provide accessible support for cessation.’ He also highlighted the significant financial burden tobacco imposes—both through direct consumption and the subsequent healthcare costs incurred due to tobacco-related diseases. Dr. Aasim Farooq Shah further praised the esteemed Principal/Dean of Government Dental College and Hospital, Srinagar, Professor Dr. Sandeep kaur Bali, for her continuous encouragement of such programs and her continued support for the Department of Public Health Dentistry. Under her visionary leadership, the department’s field activities have reached new heights. He noted that, guided by her support, the department is set to open new Tobacco Cessation Centres in the coming days and has been empowered with a strong work culture dedicated to public health.
The initiative was well-received by the attendees and community members, with active participation and engagement at all venues. The Department of Public Health Dentistry reaffirmed its commitment to building a tobacco-free society through sustained education, counseling, and preventive health services