Chennai: ‘Disease for sale’ screams a banner inside the venue of the youth health mela held at Valluvar Kottam in the city.
The stall designed like a Tasmac shop attracted curious youth. They were poring over liquor ‘bottles’ labelled with the ill-effects of alcohol. The organisers had listed the various liquor varieties available and the specific disease each one could cause.
“Those who came into the stall were sensitised about a variety of diseases alcoholics are prone to. Many were not aware of the extent of damage alcohol could cause,” said A. Narayanan, a mela organiser.
“The stalls gave great insight into various issues like alcoholism and tobacco usage. The traditional food varieties stall is what I liked the most,” said S. Harshini, student from Anna University.
“Over a period of time, we have forgotten the taste of organic vegetables. But there is an increase in people looking for organic vegetables now as they find organic vegetables juicier,” said P. Kalirajan, an organic farmer.
The organisers have also created a separate mini hall for sensitisation programme related to the adverse impact of tobacco products.
“Passive smokers are also vulnerable. Several researches had proved that nicotine, a primary product in cigarette making, is equal to cocaine in creating addiction. Only through the active participation of the media can we influence people about its ill-effects,” said Dr Aravind Krishnamurthy, oncologist, Adyar Cancer Institute.
