By EoK Correspondent
The heart of Srinagar’s Lal Chowk turned into a stage of public health awareness on Wednesday as Government Dental College and Hospital (GDCH) organised a day-long programme under its flagship initiative “Bright Smiles, Healthy Lives.” The campaign sought to highlight the importance of oral hygiene, discourage tobacco use, and encourage preventive healthcare practices.
The event, part of a four-day awareness drive inaugurated earlier this week by Health Minister Sakeena Masood Itoo, drew large participation from students, faculty, and staff of the college. The highlight was a mass awareness march that began at the iconic Clock Tower (Ghanta Ghar) and concluded at Pratap Park.
The march was flagged off by Superintendent of Police (East), Raja Zuhaib (KPS), the guest of honour, in the presence of Senior Superintendent of Police (Traffic), Srinagar, Ajaz Ahmed (IAS), who served as chief guest. Participants held placards and banners while chanting slogans about oral hygiene and the dangers of tobacco, drawing the attention of commuters, shopkeepers, and bystanders in Srinagar’s busiest commercial hub.
At Pratap Park, students staged a vibrant Nukkad Natak (street play) on oral health and anti-tobacco awareness. Using dialogue, slogans, and real-life depictions, the performers highlighted the dangers of tobacco consumption, its link to oral cancers, and the urgent need to adopt healthy habits. The street performance attracted a large crowd and turned into an interactive awareness session.
The campaign also resonated with the central government’s preventive health push under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Swasth Nari Sakshat Parivar Abhiyan. Organisers said the event, coinciding with the Prime Minister’s birthday, carried symbolic weight, reinforcing his message of fitness and preventive healthcare.
Lauding the effort, both the SSP (Traffic) and SP (East) said GDCH had successfully taken health awareness beyond classrooms and clinics, placing it directly in public spaces. “Oral health is integral to overall well-being, and awareness among the youth is the first step to a healthier society,” said SSP Ajaz Ahmed.
Faculty members including Dr. Mohammed Mushtaq, Head of Orthodontics, Dr. Suhail Majid Jan, Head of Periodontics, and Dr. Aasim Farooq Shah, Head of Public Health Dentistry, attended the event along with academic committee members. Dr. Shah emphasised that oral health is often overlooked despite its close links with systemic diseases, and reiterated the college’s commitment to continuing outreach in schools and community spaces.
The day concluded with a collective pledge by students, faculty, and officers to work towards a tobacco-free Srinagar and spread the message of oral hygiene across households.
The awareness series will continue on Thursday at the Government Dental College premises, with the next session focusing on medical waste disposal.