A nationwide call by the Riyadh Initiative against Substance Abuse (RISA), a Riyadh-based voluntary group of a charitable trust, Subair Kunju Foundation, (Trivandrum, Kerala) for a mass pledge against tobacco and other substance abuse as part of observation of World No Tobacco Day was marked by a massive turnout of more than 30,000 students and over 1,000 teachers from various international schools in the Kingdom. They all took the pledge that they would never use any substance of addiction and affirmed their responsibility to protect the community against the evils of tobacco, alcohol and other hazardous additive substances. The first function was conducted in the International Indian School, Dammam. Dr. Abdul Azeez Subair Kunju, a public health doctor working with Ministry of Health, KSA, and the convener of RISA took 3 awareness sessions for a gathering of around 6,000 students from both boys and girls sections specially mentioning the ten tips to protect teenagers from the evil of substance abuse. It was followed by a special RISA documentary show on substance abuse. Principal Dr. E. K. Mohammed Shaffee led the oath taking function. In the International Indian School, Riyadh, Boys Principal Dr. Shawkat Parvez, Vice Principal Mrs. Meera Rahman, Girls school Principal Mrs. Aasima Sha prompted the pledge. More than 6,000 students and hundreds of teachers and other staff took the oath. In other international schools in Riyadh such as Al Jasmin, Al Aliya, Modern, New Middle East Modern Middle East, Yara, Delhi Public School, Alif International, respective principals viz; Rahmathulla, Shanu Chakko, E M Haneefa, Tabassum Farooqi, Jothy, Aasima Salim, Miraj Mohammed and Mohammed Musthafa prompted the oath. Simultaneous sessions were arranged in Al Khosama school in Dammam and other international schools in Jubail, Tabuk, Buridah and also in Gulf, Asian, India International and Pace International schools in Sharjah. Leaflets containing the RISA pledge and 10 tips to help the children to keep themselves away from substance abuse, sponsored by City flower hypermarket were also distributed. RISA program committee members namely Sony Kuttanad (Central committee), Adv. Aseef Mohammed (Sharjah), Shameer Yusaf, Nooh Pappinissery, Safeer (Eastern zone), Mohammed Ismail Naushad, Anas, Shajahan (Dammam), Sharafudeen (Tabuk) coordinated the activity with the help of school authorities. Public figures and local media persons were among those participated in different functions. Gulf Madhyamam, a leading Malayalam newspaper was the media partner. RISA has a plan to conduct similar sessions in schools that are closed for summer vacation on a later date, said Dr. Abdul Azeez Subair Kunju, who is also the Managing Trusty of Subair Kunju Foundation. The foundation organized a similar campaign on the occasion of 144th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi (World Nonviolence Day, 2nd October 2013) when more than 15,000 students from various schools took part. Now the participation has almost doubled, he added. He also extended the thanks to all those who took sincere effort to make the event a great success. RISA program committee is a 17-member team with people from different sectors. Dr. Bharathan is the program consultant and Karunakaran Pilla is the joint convener. RISA has a record of conducting more than 65 awareness programs in various places internationally since it was officially recognized by the National Committee for Narcotic Control, KSA in April 2013.
