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To help the people quit tobacco use and facilitate implementation of strategies for prevention and control of tobacco, a district-level coordination committee meeting for Enforcement of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003, was held at Kakching district headquarters, 45 km south of Imphal on Tuesday.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Thaodem Rajen Singh of Kakching district chaired the meeting, wherein district nodal officer Dr. Sanasam Jupitar of National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), Kakching, said that Government of India has launched the NTCP in the year 2007-08.
In a powerpoint presentation on NTCP programme, Dr. Jupitar said Manipur recorded 58.1% of its population as tobacco users.
The main objective of NTCP is to create awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco consumption, reduce the production and supply of tobacco products, ensure effective implementation of the provisions under “COTPA2003 (Prohibition of advertisement and regulation of trade and commerce, production, supply and distribution).
Nearly 8 lakh Indians die from tobacco use every year, which is more than those killed by AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined.
Forty out of 100 cancer cases in India are tobacco-related and nearly 95% of all oral cancers occur due to tobacco use. Tobacco use also causes stroke, heart attack, lung disease, blindness and other illness.
The main thrust areas discussed in Tuesday’s meeting included training of health and social workers, NGOs, school teachers and enforcement officers, information, education and communication activities, school programmes, monitoring of tobacco control laws, coordination with Panchayati Raj Institutions for village-level activities and setting up and strengthening of cessation facilities, including provision of pharmacological treatment facilities at district level.