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Elders of Chedema village in Kohima district seen here with a 'tobacco-free village' certificate, with district officials at the village's panchayat hall, on May 16 in Kohima.[/caption]
Dimapur, May 16 (EMN): The district coordination committee of the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) for Dimapur district met for a review of anti-tobacco advocacy activities on May 16 in Dimapur.
The meeting was presided over by the deputy commissioner of Dimapur Kevekha Zehol, updates stated on Thursday.
The meeting was conducted, keeping in view also activities concerning the World No Tobacco Day, which will be observed on May 31, the government's publicity agency, the department of Information and Public Relations (IPR) stated in its updates on May 17.
The deputy commissioner was stated to have suggested to the officials at the meeting to 'put up more of pictorial representation' in strategic areas.
Said materials can educate the people on the ill effects of tobacco, the IPR stated. The 'pictorial representation' will convey the message 'more effectively,' Zehol stated.
The public servant was stated to have expressed happiness at various organizations, including students unions, schools and churches for 'coming out together for the cause.'
The district nodal officer for the NTCP, Dr. Tetseo, no first name given in the IPR report, was stated to have informed that World No Tobacco Day for 2019 would be observed with the theme "Tobacco and lung health."
Expressing concern about the threat of tobacco and consumption of the substance among the youths, the health official felt that the church can play an active role in the campaign.
Psychologist at the district tobacco control cell, Imkumla Aier gave a brief account of the theme, the IPR stated.
Aier was stated to have said that the campaign would increase awareness among the citizens about the negative impact that tobacco has on people's lung health, besides being the source of various ailments that include cancer and chronic respiratory diseases.
Aier said tobacco smoking is the primary cause for lung cancer and is responsible for over two-third of lung cancer deaths globally.
Also at the meeting was Rev. Moses, no surname given, from the Christian Forum of Dimapur.
He informed that a publicity program for pastors would be organised. Experts will be invited to communicate to the churches respective congregation about the harmful effects of tobacco, the IPR stated.
During the programme four schools were given tobacco-free certificates by the deputy commissioner, the updates stated.
Chedema village is tobacco-free
Chedema village in Kohima district has been declared a 'tobacco-free village.'
A health official Dr. Hotokhu Chishi, additional director of the department of Health and Family Welfare, declared the status during a programme at the village's Panchayat Hall on May 16 in Kohima.
The village was established during 1969-70 with fifteen households, the IPR stated.
The IPR offered updates on Thursday about the development.
The village's authorities took a decision to ban sale of any tobacco products in the village since 1972 considering the harmful effects of tobacco. Today, the result of upholding the decision has earned it a position of being the eight village in the district that's been declared a tobacco-free village.
The other seven villages in the district with the status are four in the Rengma range; and Khonoma, Jotsoma and Gariphema.
The additional deputy commissioner of Kohima, Lithrongla Tongpi Rutsa gave a short speech during the event. She congratulated the village for upholding its decision for decades and achieving the title, the IPR stated.
Rutsa encouraged them to continue their system of unity and determination in future and to set an example to others.
'A model village has a big responsibility to think and to act carefully in many ways,' Rutsa said and requested them to be proactive in publicizing the ill-effects of tobacco use.
She hoped that with 'such unity and determination,' it will not be long for the village to be declared 'the cleanest village or plastic free village' in future.
Also, Dr. Hotokhu Chishi was stated to have expressed appreciation for the decision the village took.
Chishi requested the elders and parents of the area to pass on the information to the younger generations 'for overall improvement of health status in the village,' the updates stated.
The head gaon bura of Chedema, Pelhouvilie Medom giving a brief history of the village. He said that the village was recognized in 1987 by the government. It currently has 74 households with a population of 315 in the village, the updates stated.
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A number of school institutions and a college in Wokha district have been declared tobacco-free premises. The IPR offered updates on Thursday about the development.
The schools are Bethel high school, Christian model high school, Gilgal high, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya at Chukitong near Wokha town; SMBH, St. Peter’s school at Longsa, and Mount Tiyi College were declared tobacco-free zones.
They were declared so during the quarterly meeting of the district tobacco control cell, district coordination committee and district level enforcement squad of the NTCP.
The meeting was conducted on May 16 in the deputy commissioner's conference hall in Wokha, the IPR stated.
During the meeting, the IPR informed, Dr. Merebeni Odyuo, senior dental surgeon, highlighted various activities that have been undertaken.
The health officer was stated to have apprised the members about the Wokha NTCP's score-card. The IPR did not give details about the score card.
Officials also gave an overview of the COTPA Act for departmental enforcement officers, the press release stated.
The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act of 2003 or COTPA 2003 is an Act of the Parliament of India.
It was enacted in 2003 to prohibit advertisement of, and to provide for the regulation of trade and commerce in, and production, supply and distribution of cigarettes and other tobacco products in India.
The deputy commissioner of Wokha, Dr. Manazir Jeelani Samoon, released a booklet titled 'Prevalence and Influence of Tobacco use among students in Wokha town,' the updates added.