New Tobacco Control Resources launched

In a major boost to public health, Nagaland launched the Health Worker Guide (HWG), Brief Advice Protocol, and Tobacco-Free Village (TFV) guidelines during a state-level workshop on strengthening tobacco control and cessation held on July 23.
Organized by the Directorate of Health & Family Welfare in collaboration with Vital Strategies under the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), the resources aim to help frontline health workers and community leaders support quitting tobacco and promote tobacco-free environments.
The HWG and TFV guidelines were developed by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India, while the Brief Advice Protocol (Ask, Advise, Refer) was created by the Government of Nagaland with technical support from Vital Strategies.
S. Tainiu, secretary, Health & Family Welfare, officially launched the tools in the presence of Dr. Mereninla Senlem, Principal Director, and Dr. Avile Zao, Mission Director, NHM.
Technical sessions were led by Dr. Puneet Chahar from Vital Strategies, covering topics like COTPA, PECA, Tobacco Vendor Licensing (TVL), and integration with other health programmes such as NTEP, NP-NCD, RKSK, NMHP, and TOFEI.
District NTCP teams, school education officials, and health programme representatives attended the workshop, chaired by Dr. Reyosalu Lase, Jt. Director (Dental). Progress updates were shared by Dr. I. Simon Sumi, while guidelines on Tobacco Vendor Licensing were presented by Dr. Arenla Walling. A peer sharing session on improving record-keeping was led by social worker Ms. Temsuchila Walling.
On the occasion, district-level achievers- Dr. O. Daisy Ovung (Best District Nodal Officer, Tuensang); Imkumla Aier (Best Psychologist, Dimapur); Medongunuo Pienyu (Best Social Worker, Dimapur) and Nukshiwati Longchar (Best District Consultant, Mokokchung), were felicitated.