State commissioner and secretary, health and family, Y Kikheto Sema, on Wednesday disclosed that the state government has planned to declare all government offices and institutions as “tobacco-free zone”.
Kikheto said this during the “World No Tobacco Day” event organised by State Tobacco Control Cell, National Tobacco Control programme on the theme “We Need Food, Not Tobacco” at Kevilhouu Rio Auditorium, G. Rio School here.
He said that the state government had recently declared all educational institution both government & private in Nagaland as ‘tobacco-free zone’. Kikheto also informed that all the government hospitals, health care centres, health offices including directorate as TFZ on January 23, 2023 with effect from February 1, 2023.
On April 4, 2023, the state government declared all private hospitals, health institutions as ‘Tobacco-Free Zone’ with effect from April 11, 2023. Expressing concern over the rise in tobacco consumption, he informed that recently around 700 new cancer cases were registered in the state mostly tobacco-related cases. Kikheto said that currently Nagaland was the second highest tobacco consumption state in the country and the highest consumption between the ages of 13-15 years of 43%.
Stating that only the department cannot tackle the issue, C&S suggested the Churches and NGOs to come forward in order to curb the situation. He expressed joy that the younger generations, who were the future, were coming up with a cause to say “no” to tobacco.
Kikheto also urged all the students, and children to initiate ‘No Tobacco Home’ as the parents would surely agree to their children.
Meanwhile, Kikheto also congratulated and gave away certificates to 15 students from G Rio School for pledging “no tobacco home” along with their parents.
A presentation on ‘Economic impact of Tobacco use’ was given by DTCC consultant, NTCP Linoka K Awomi. The programme was chaired by Radhika Chetri, invocation by Aphre Kerhuo, and a special song by G. Rio School, followed by certificate presentations and vote of thanks by SNO (NTCP) and deputy director H&FW, Dr. Arenla Walling.