A one day advocacy workshop for Auxiliary Nursing and Midwifery (ANMs) on National tobacco control programme was conducted on January 30 at Chief Medical Officer’s (CMO) conference hall, Dimapur.
Resource person, Dr. Tetseo, Nodal Officer (NTCP), gave a detailed presentation on the harmful effects of tobacco and the role of ANMs for creating awareness during their daily OPD at the health centers and especially within the communities. He informed that Nagaland is the second highest State in the country in tobacco products use and in smokeless form adding the prevalence rate of 45% in Nagaland is the highest in the country.
He urged the participants to sensitize the public on the ill effects of tobacco uses in terms of health hazards and the major cause of preventable death in the country which is about 10 lakh in the country per year and also on the financial impact it has on the users.
He said that about Rs 37 crores is spent on tobacco products, both smoking and smokeless form in Dimapur district alone. He further stated that tobacco use is the major risk factor in increasing non-communicable disease such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer and high blood pressure.
Meanwhile, Imkumla, Psychologist NTCP, also spoke on the social problems attributed to tobacco use. As per theories formulated, it was learnt that people get influence and start using tobacco by observing other tobacco users and that children are easily influenced by their parents or other family members, peers, actors or pop stars, who uses tobacco.
With the setting up of a Detox Centre for Tobacco User at District Hospital Dimapur, she also emphasized on the need to identify and rehabilitate tobacco users in the district. She further informed them to identify tobacco users in their community so as to urge the users to avail the service at the Detox Centre. The programme was chaired by Naro Jamir, DEO, NTCP Dimapur.
Friday, February 20, 2026