Dimapur, Oct. 29 (EMN): The District Tobacco Control Cell (NTCP) of Wokha conducted a training programme, besides a seminar, on Oct. 29 in the conference hall of the Lotha Eloe Hoho’s office. The programme was conducted for members of community organisations such as the Lotha Eloe Hoho, Wokha Village Eloe Hoho, and Vankhosung Eloe Hoho, it was informed.
Updates from the establishment informed on Monday that the speakers for the event were Dr. Robin Lotha, chief medical officer; Dr. Meribeni Odyuo, senior dental surgeon; and Abeni R Kikon, psycologist, at the Tobacco Cessation Centre, district hospital.
During the event, Dr. Robin Lotha spoke about the harmful effects using tobacco can cause. He listed out facts about tobacco to the gathering. About eight-nine lakh Indians die due to tobacco-related diseases and all this deaths are preventable, he said. India has the highest number of oral cancer cases in the world and about 90% is said to be caused by tobacco use.
Lotha explained that a person inhaling some other person’s cigarette smoke was equally harmful; it can also cause diseases and premature death in children and adults who do not smoke. Some tobacco-related disease are oral cancer, cardiovascular problems, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary complications, stroke, cataract, brain shrinkage; Alzheimer’s, and Bronchitis, the updates stated.
Dr. Meribeni Odyuo spoke to the gathering about the Cotpa 2003. 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 Parliament of India enacted in 2003. The Act seeks 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 Act was enacted by the Parliament to give effect to the Resolution passed by the 39th World Health Assembly, urging the member states to implement measures to provide non-smokers protection from involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke.
Abeni R Kikon spoke about the role of women in controlling tobacco use. She encouraged them to be agents in controlling tobacco use in the community, the updates added.
