To spread awareness among the community on tobacco-related cancer, Artemis Health Sciences Foundation, in association with Yuvraj Singh Foundation, organized a cancer awareness-cum-screening campaign on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day on 31st May 2017 which was attended by more than 120 men and women of the rural community residing in Teekli Village, Gurugram District. Dr. Manish Julaha, Oncologist (Head and Neck Speciality), Artemis Hospitals while addressing the gathering, underscored the need of healthy and tobacco-free lifestyle, steps of self-examination of mouth cancer and emphasized the need to quit consumption of tobacco in every form.

It was observed during the event that most of the women in the community had turned up to attend the event. The women shared their concern with the doctors to understand how they can ask the male members of their families to stop smoking as they hardly have any knowledge about the ill-effects. Dr. Manish Julaha helped women to realize the role which they can play in their families, explained the impact it has on passive smokers, child growth, pregnant women, etc. During the discussion with the participants, it was also discovered that there were several women who are addicted to hookah. They pledged to educate their families about the ill-effects of smoking and chewing tobacco.

Mr. Madanpal, one of the participants from their own community came forward and shared his life journey of saying NO to tobacco. He shared that it has improved his appetite, he does not feel any form of congestion in his chest, feels fresh and out of the shackles of smoking. Artemis Health Sciences Foundation and Yuvraj Singh Foundation applauded the zeal of Mr. Madanpal for keeping himself motivated and firm on one of the very important decisions of his life.

The camp witnessed support from the Sarpanch of the village, Mr. Bhramdev. Anganwadi workers played an important role in mobilizing men and women to come forward with their queries and know about side effects of Tobacco. During the camp, several participants got themselves screened and came forward to know how to bring themselves out of the addiction of tobacco.