‘Zombie Walk’ at HCG Cuttack Marks World No Tobacco Day
HCG Cancer Hospital, Cuttack, hosts ‘Zombie Walk‘ on World No Tobacco Day, to Highlight the Devastating Outcomes of Tobacco Addiction
Cuttack, 3rd June 2025 — To mark World No Tobacco Day, HCG Cancer Hospital, Cuttack, staged a compelling public awareness initiative “Zombie Walk: Tobacco Turns You into the Walking Dead,” at the Nexus Esplanade mall, Bhubaneshwar premises. The event witnessed six theatre artists dressed as decaying zombies, who moved through the evening crowd to represent the destructive impact of tobacco on the human body. The visually impactful HCG campaign used creative dramatization to engage onlookers and reinforce the urgent need to quit tobacco for a healthier life.
The dramatization carried a chilling message: that tobacco doesn’t kill instantly — it causes the body to rot from within, over time. The group performed in silence, with eerie makeup and tattered clothing, representing the physical decay associated with the high-risk habit of smoking and chewing tobacco. Some participants bore placards, echoing lines, including “I died young. Thanks, tobacco,” and “Smoking didn’t kill me fast — it made me rot slowly.” Others embodied phrases such as “The real horror? Tobacco addiction” and “This is what 15 cigarettes a day looks like”; sending strong visual cues that caught the attention of onlookers and passers-by, making them stop in their tracks, to pause and imbibe the gravity of the messages.
Dr. Shrigopal, Consultant Medical Oncologist, HCG Panda Cancer Hospital, Cuttack, said: “Every cigarette smoked permits a host of toxic chemicals to slowly, but surely, infiltrate and damage the body. The misconception that occasional use is harmless must be corrected. Even low-level exposure to tobacco increases cancer risk. At HCG, our message is clear: there is no safe level of tobacco consumption.”
Dr. Smita Padhy, COO, HCG Panda Cancer Hospital, Cuttack, added: “At HCG, we still see far too many patients coming in with tobacco-induced cancers that are already at an advanced stage and less responsive to treatment. Early detection dramatically improves outcomes, yet the opportunity is often missed due to a lack of awareness. If individuals were more informed and sought screening sooner, we could potentially save countless lives. Prevention and early action are of equal importance.”
The HCG organized event concluded with a community interaction, where the artists urged people to prioritize preventive care and voluntarily decline their first cigarette, or packet of chewing tobacco, altogether. With such efforts HCG Panda Cancer Hospital continues to lead from the front in spreading awareness, offering early diagnosis, and empowering individuals to fight tobacco-related diseases with the appropriate and effective, support and medical intervention.