10 schools in Zunheboto declared tobacco-free

[caption id="attachment_284685" align="alignnone" width="565"] District personnel and officials pose for a photograph with seized tobacco products in Zunheboto town.[/caption] Dimapur, Nov. 27 (EMN): A total of 10 schools in Zunheboto were declared tobacco-free and certificates were given away to the schools’ authorities by the deputy commissioner of Zunheboto, Peter Lichamo. The declaration was made during a meeting of the district-level coordination committee of the District Tobacco Control Cell (DTCC) held in the conference hall of the deputy commissioner on November 27, an update from the office of the chief medical officer (CMO) stated on Wednesday. Dr. Esther Chophy Ngullie, dental surgeon of District Hospital Zunheboto, highlighted about the activities carried out in the district. She stated that DTCC had carried out awareness programme in 14 schools covering 2255 students, community awareness in five churches, two trainings on tobacco awareness and COTPA 2003 and one enforcement drive in the month of November. Dr. Vihuto Assumi, principal of Immanuel Higher Secondary School, spoke on behalf of the tobacco-free schools and the vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. K Akaho Sema, deputy CMO and nodal officer NTCP. The meeting was attended by the deputy commissioner, superintendent of police, deputy CMO, principal of government college, church leaders, ZTYO, ANPSA members, dental surgeon, and NTCP staff. Meanwhile, Zunheboto district administration, police, Sumi Totimi Hoho and National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) team conducted a joint inspection of all the shops selling tobacco products in Zunheboto town on November 23. An update from the office of the chief medical officer stated that the seized items were latter destroyed.