To make Ravindra Nath Tagore Medical College and M.B hospital a tobacco free zone, the Hospital administration will start an Anti Tobacco drive within the premises.

The nodal officer and the Deputy Superintendent of the M.B Hospital Dr. Ramesh Joshi said that from 4th July a drive will officially begin within the premises of both the organization in which people coming to the hospital will be checked and motivated to stop the consumption of tobacco and related products.

The initiative is taken by the hospital administration seeing the hazards of tobacco to one’s health. This will be the 1st type of anti tobacco drive initiated by any of the medical college of the state, Joshi said.

Joshi further added that as M.B Hospital is the biggest hospital of Udaipur division with 5-6,000 outstation patients, 1.5 indoor patients and on an average around 15-20,000 patients coming in a day. In such conditions people with varied tobacco consumption habits come to the premises that not only harm their health but affect the people’s health around them.

During the drive, the patients coming in, their relatives, staff members and other agencies working at the hospital will be motivated to stay away from the tobacco products and will be educated about the harmful effects, said Joshi.

The consumers will be first detected and later educated about the undesired after effects. Jaipur based Rajasthan Cancer Foundation is supporting the drive and is sponsored by Rotary Club, Udaipur. Around 100 hoardings will be put up in the premises carrying anti-tobacco slogans. Security guards at the entry and exit will keep a check on commuters if they are found carrying tobacco products.

To make this drive successful, Dr. Joshi said that a committee was set up by the administration consisting of 4 members, including 2 doctors and two nursing staff. The committee will keep an eye on the activities being carried out within the drive.

To set an example, even the parking contractors will be included in the drive to play an active role to make M.B Hospital a tobacco free zone.