An advocacy workshop on tobacco control and initiation of the ongoing “Smoke Free District Headquarters Campaign” was held at Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) office building on September 24.
Administrator KMC, Lanusenla Longkumer, who chaired the workshop said that the campaign for smoke free Kohima city was launched on April 29, 2016 followed by sensitisation and other programme on the ongoing “smoke free district headquarter campaign”. She said that to achieve Kohima district as “smoke free district headquarter”, every stakeholders and individuals must support and contribute towards the endeavour.
District Nodal Officer, NTCP, Kohima, Dr. Arenla Walling said that smoke free campaign was to strengthen the enforcement of Section 4 of COTPA 2003, which bans smoking in identified public places. She said that medical department alone cannot enforce or implement the provision of law under the section and sought cooperation from all the enforcement officers and stakeholders. Dr. Arenla said that smoking should be banned because smoke contains more than 7000 harmful chemicals, of which 100 are toxic and about 70 of them cause cancer. “Smoking and exposure to 2nd hand smoke can cause cancer, CV diseases, stroke, pneumonia and can damage the reproductive system, increase chances of TB infection women and children suffer the most from 2nd hand smoke”, she added. Social worker NTCP Kohima, Achila Walling gave a power point presentation on various Acts and Sections under COTPA 2003 while Pelebeinuo Khezhie, a Psychologist from NTCP, Kohima delivered the vote of thanks.