Spouse(s) Nirmala Vaidya Children Jayant, Shekhar | Name Sharad Vaidya | |
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Died 19 October 2000
Bombay, India Occupation Surgeon, anti-tobacco activist | ||
Sharad Vaidya (7 March 1936 - 19 October 2000) was an Indian surgeon who specialized in cancer surgery. He established the Goa Cancer Society and founded the Gosalia Memorial Cancer Hospital and the National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication.
He convinced the Goa Assembly to pass the Goa Prohibition of Tobacco Act 1997. This act was the culmination of 30 years of efforts to educate the people and children of Goa about the harmful effects of tobacco on health, economy and ecology, and effectively reducing the rates of tobacco-related diseases such as heart disease and cancer in the last decade of the 20th century. The law has been the harbinger of similar laws in the rest of India and was far ahead of similar laws in Europe.
Vaidya spent thirty years on tobacco research. The educational material he produced is now included in the regular curriculum of schools since 1994.
In 1986, he was awarded an Ornamental Silver Lamp and Certificate of Appreciation at the 25th Silver Jubilee celebrations at the hands of the president of India, for "his outstanding contribution to Goa's progress".
In 1989, Vaidya was awarded a Gold Medal and Commemorative Certificate on the 2nd World No Tobacco Day for "his continuing commitment in the field of health to the cause of Tobacco Free Societies".