With the rest of the world, the World Health Organization’s “World No Tobacco Day” (WNTD) was observed across the state as various organizations and institutions held programmes and organized events to mark the occasion. This year’s theme was “Tobacco and heart disease” to highlight the harmful effect tobacco and its products has on the condition of the heart.
Kohima: Kohima District Legal Services Authority (KDLSA) organized a walkathon to commemorate “anti tobacco day” in collaboration with National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) Department of Health and Family Welfare, Kohima, Nagaland at Old MLA Hostel junction on Thursday morning.
Nodal officer NTCP, Dr. Arenla Walling in her brief address said World No Tobacco Day is observed around the world every year on May 31, intended to encourage a 24 hour period of abstinence from all forms of tobacco consumption around the globe. She said the day is also meant to draw attention to the widespread prevalence of tobacco use and its negative health effects, which currently leads to nearly 6 million deaths each year worldwide, out of which 6,00,000 are the result of non-smokers being exposed to second hand smoke.
According to her, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated the theme “Tobacco and heart disease” for World No Tobacco Day to focus on cardiovascular health. Dr. Walling said tobacco use is a known and important risk factor for cardiovascular disease, including coronary heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease. She said that active and passive smoking contributes to 12% of all heart disease deaths, however the knowledge of this association among the public is low.
Dr. Walling said WHO encouraged every concerned individual and parties to organize campaigns to increase awareness on the link between tobacco and heart disease and the possible measures that can be adopted by the government and the public to reduce heart health risks posed by tobacco. She called upon all to unite together and encourage people to choose life by saying no to tobacco and reduce the negative impact of tobacco in our communities.
The programme was chaired by Jevitoli Sumi PLV Kohima law college KDLSA. Later, member secretary Nagaland State legal Services Authority Mezivolu T. Therieh flagged off the walkathon from Old MLA hostel junction which went on to Indoor stadium. Schools and colleges took part in the walkathon. (Correspondent)
Dimapur: Along with the rest of the world, “World No Tobacco Day” was observed in Dimapur on Thursday at Greenwood Higher Secondary School, Nagarjan under the theme, “Tobacco and heart diseases” organised by District Tobacco Control Cell (DTCC) Dimapur. The programme saw the participation of various government departments, panel lawyers and around 10 schools and colleges from Dimapur.
Speaking on the occasion as the chief guest, chief judicial magistrate, Ajongba Imchen, who is also the secretary of Dimapur District Legal Service Authority (DDLSA) said that the justice that their conscience demanded was the justice that they deserved. He questioned the gathering whether they were doing justice to their bodies and urged them to deliver justice to their bodies. If your conscience tells you to not pick up a tobacco habit, he said, “this is enough and that is justice and no further reasons are required”, he added.
Seeking the attention of the students, Imchen said that the present problems in the state were because citizens were not aware of their rights. He encouraged people to approach the DDLSA with their problems as it was always ready to assist.
Chief medical officer (CMO) Dimapur, Dr. K. Vikato Kinimi, who was the guest of honour of the programme, reported that Dimapur district had declared 107 schools free of tobacco.
Delivering a keynote address, state nodal officer NTCP, Hotokhu Chishi, through a power point presentation highlighted the current figures of tobacco and related diseases in Nagaland. Chishi said that according to 2013-14 department of health and family welfare tobacco survey for children below 15 years of age report, 28.3% of children were found to be using tobacco habitually. He reported that Nagaland has topped in cancer case prevalence with 15.3% male and 10.8% female. He also said that every year, 456 new cancer cases were reported in Nagaland.
Resource person, panel lawyer DDLSA, Zuchumpeni Ezung spoke about the COPTA Act 2003, its salient features and punishments under the Act. Resource person, panel lawyer DDLSA, Sentimenla Tzudir stressed on POCSO Act and child abuse. (Staff Reporter)
Mokokchung: The Mokokchung District Legal Services Authority (MDLSA) conducted programmes in Town Higher Secondary School and Model Higher Secondary School (at the THSS Assembly Hall and MTBA United Christian Fellowship Church, respectively), in collaboration with Health & Family Welfare Department in observation of ‘World Anti-Tobacco Day’, with the theme: ‘Tobacco & Heart disease’, under the initiative of District Nodal Officer, Dr. N Moa Jamir. The resource persons were Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon, IMDH, Dr. Sentirenla Jamir and Orthodontist, IMDH, Dr. Nichukholie Vupru, deliberating on the topic: Ill effects of tobacco & heart disease. Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Mokokchung, Dr. Kibang exhorted the students and votes of thanks were proposed by MDLSA Retainer Lawyer Advocate I Imkong Jamir and MDLSA Panel Lawyer Advocate Tajungla. (Correspondent)
Kiphire: Along with the rest of the world, World Tobacco Day was observed here at Zisaji presidency Government college Kiphire with Dr. C. Tsenthungo Patton , Chief Medical Officer Kiphire as the main speaker.
The CMO in his speech reported that 43 percent of the population in Nagaland consume tobacco. While asking the gathering to be ambassadors for a tobacco free world, he also asked them to make college campus Tobacco Free Zones.
Dr. Wekhrou Mero, Jr. Dental Surgeon DHK who gave a presentation on Nagaland Tobacco Control profile also impressed upon the students and the institutions to lead in campaigning for tobacco control in the district.
The programme was chaired by Dr. Pewezo DPO (RCH/UIP). A presentation on the theme was given by Dr. Menwen Konyak MD, Medical Officer, DHK. Special songs were presented by students of ZPC College Kiphire while a note of appreciation was given by Dr. Chitale Hiese, DVBO Kiphire. (Correspondent)