All schools to be ‘tobacco-free’ zone from May 1

State health and family welfare (H7FW) department on Friday launched “tobacco-free school to tobacco-free home” campaign at Little Flower Higher Secondary School, Kohima with commissioner and secretary, H&FW, Y Kikheto Sema as special guest.
Speaking at the launching programme, Kikheto Sema disclosed that 700 new cancer cases are registered in Nagaland and 43% of children between the age of 13-15 were tobacco users.
Describing the trend as “alarming”, the commissioner & secretary said that the state government has, therefore, declared all educational institutions both government and private in the state of Nagaland as “tobacco-free zone” with effect from May 1, 2023.
He said that out of about 2684 schools in Nagaland, so far only 356 schools in Nagaland were tobacco-free schools comprising only 13.26%.
Kikheto said that tobacco was one the biggest causes of preventable deaths in the world responsible for 8.2 million deaths globally and 1.3 million deaths in India.
He pointed out that in North East India, 49% of all cancer cases in men and 22 % in women attributed to tobacco use respectively
Kikheto informed that on April 4, 2023, all private hospitals, health institutions were declared as “tobacco free zone” with effect from April 11, 2023
Informing that all government hospitals, health care, health offices including directorate of health & family welfare had been declared as “tobacco free zone” on January 23, 2023, Kikheto said that soon all government, public offices and institutions would also be declared as tobacco free zones.
He described “tobacco-free home” campaign as “historic” and said it was perhaps the first in the country and world. Kikheto said Little Flower Higher Secondary School was chosen as the venue because it was an all-girls school and girls being effective, efficient agents of changes he also stated that women were the key to sustainable development and quality of life in the family.
Kikheto also highlighted the objectives of tobacco-free home campaign. He said that once the educational institutions became tobacco-free, the students would have more knowledge to create awareness in their homes and when awareness was created in every home huge impact on the overall behaviour of the citizens will follow.
On the occasion, 24 certificates for declaration of “tobacco-free home’ were distributed to the parents and students.
Earlier, sister superior Rosemary Adaphro delivered welcome address and gave invocation. At the programme, LFHSS, Anti-Tobacco club presented the club anthem while additional director, Dr Chiekroshuyi Tetseo delivered keynote address and deputy director, &SNO(NTCP), Dr Arenla Walling proposed vote of thanks. The programme was chaired by joint director & SPO (NHOP) H&FW, Dr Meribeni Odyuo.