Tobacco cessation cell available in NHAK
Principal Correspondent
Kohima, February 18
Altogether 115 tobacco related oral cancerous cases were confirmed and referred outside the State during the period from 2007 to 2009 in Nagaland. Joint Director & State Nodal Officer (NTCP), Directorate of Health & Family Welfare, Dr. H. Hotokhu Chishi said that a total of 99,237 patients were registered during the same period while 243 tobacco related precancerous cases were detected 115 were referred for treatment outside the State.
Dr. Chishi revealed this while making a presentation on aims and objectives of National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) during the first meeting of the District Level Coordination Committee (DLCC) of NTCP, Kohima district held today under the chairmanship of ADC Kohima Lithrongla at DC Conference Hall here.
He said Tobacco is the single greatest preventable cause of death in the world today, killing up to half the people who use it. More than one billion people world-wide currently smoke tobacco and tobacco use currently kills more than 5 million people world-wide every year.
Tobacco use continues to grow in developing countries due to steady population growth along with aggressive tobacco industry marketing efforts, he said.
If the current trends continue, tobacco will kill more than eight million per year by 2030, he expressed concern.
Maintaining that tobacco use is a risk factor for six of the eight leading causes of death in the world, he said Nagaland is the second highest consumer of tobacco products in the country as 57% of the population are either into smoking or using smokeless tobacco.
The state has about 68% male tobacco users while 28% female consume tobacco and 37% of school going children are into smoking habit while another 41% school children are smokeless tobacco users.
In a worrisome revelation, he pointed that about 28.3% of children in the state between the age group of 5-13 years also smokeless tobacco users while 14.8% children in the same age group are into smoking.
“Smoking tobacco causes cancer of the lung, larynx, kidney, bladder, stomach, colon, oral cavity and oesophagus as well as leukaemia, chronic bronchitis Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ischaemic heart disease, stroke, miscarriage, pre mature birth, birth defects and infertility, among other diseases,” he said.
This fact results in preventable human suffering and the loss of many years of productive life, he said adding that tobacco use also causes economic harm to families and countries due to loss wages, reduced productivity and increased health care cost. A cancer patient has to spend minimum Rs. 5-10 lakh for treatment, besides other expenditures, he added.
Expressing that NTCP started in 2009 in Nagaland, he sought the cooperation of the District Administration, Kohima Chamber of Commerce & Industries, Kohima Municipal Council and all stake holders in spreading awareness about the ill effects of the tobacco consumption.
He also informed that shops selling tobacco products should display certain signage restricting sale of tobacco to children below 21 years of age; hotels, restaurants, taxis and buses should also have ‘No Smoking’ signs while educational institutions should also put up boards restricting sale of tobacco products within their jurisdiction.
Kohima District nodal Officer for NTCP, Dr. Arenla Walling presenting the activities of the District Tobacco Control Cell said that awareness campaigns are be held for different sections of the society.
She also informed that the Naga Hospital Authority Kohima has facility of Tobacco Cessation Cell for those wanting to quit tobacco. Informing that experts are available for consultation on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10am to 1pm, she requested the general public to avail the facility.
She also informed that two DLCC has selected two schools, one each from government and private schools – TM Government HSS and Don Bosco HSS as model schools to stop sale of tobacco products within the vicinity of the school. Other schools would be subsequently taken up, she added.
Further, participating in the discussion KMC Administrator Rovi Meyase appealed that in order to create better awareness amongst the general populace the DTCC should conduct seminars in all the colonies/wards in coordination with the respective leaders.
The KCCI and KMC also asserted all possible supports to the DTCC towards implementation of COTPA (Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act) 2003 in the district.
Mentionably, DLCC on NTCP is supposed to have quarterly coordination meeting but today was the first of such meetings, but that too with barely a few out of the 20 different organisations included as members abstaining. Besides, representatives from different government departments, including district administration and police, representatives of various civil societies, mother and youth bodies are also members of the Kohima District Level Coordination Committee on NTCP.
