Notoriously 43.3% Naga youth consume tobacco

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Oct. 6 (EMN): In a startling revelation, 43.3% of the Naga population in the age group from 15 to 24 years consume smoke and smokeless tobacco thereby earning an infamous distinction as one of the highest tobacco consumption states in the country.

This was disclosed during a one-day outreach health camp and awareness programme held at Mount Olive College in Kohima on October 6. The programme was organised by National Urban Health Mission (NUHM), in collaboration with the Health Committee, Red Ribbon Club, and Anti-Tobacco Cell of Mount Olive College, Kohima.

Speaking during the sessions, Dr. Arenla Walling, district nodal officer of National Tobacco Control Programme, Kohima, mentioned about different forms of smoke and smokeless tobacco and informed that one person dies in every six seconds due to tobacco effects. She added that tobacco users usually suffer from heart disease, stroke, diabetes, lung cancers etc.

Walling informed that tobacco use leads to 8 million deaths globally and more than 1 million in India per year. She added that India is the second largest tobacco user after China in the world.

Stating that tobacco is the most preventable cause of premature mortality in the world, she said it is the only legally available substance which kills when it is used as intended. Mentioning that 4 in every 10 tobacco users starts consuming tobacco before 18 years of age, she also apprised about how one-third of the people are exposed to “secondhand smoke” and about six lakh people die yearly prematurely as a result of exposure to smoking.

She concluded her health talk by quoting Dr. Margaret Chan, director general of the World Health Organisation who said: “Reversing this entirely preventable epidemic must now rank as a top priority for public health and for political leaders in every country of the world”.

Ayang, counsellor of mobile integrated council and training centre (ICTC), Kohima, under District Aids Prevention and Control Programme, informed that Nagaland has an adult prevalence of 1.45% of HIV/AIDS as per Naco HIV estimation 2019.

Informing that Nagaland is estimated as the second state with the highest number of HIV infections in the country, she said there are still many people who do not come forward to get tested. She stated that once HIV enters a person’s body and weakens the immune system, the infected person becomes vulnerable to all forms of diseases.

Ayang emphasised on the need to get timely tested for HIV for receiving timely treatment in the event of being detected for the virus. She added that free treatment and medicines are available at Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK) for all HIV/AIDs related cases.

Dr. Bilva Yalie, medical officer in-charge of Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC), Seikhazou, called upon the students to be responsible to live a healthy life for themselves as well as for others. Asserting that Covid-19 virus is “here to stay with us,” she cautioned the students to continue observing Covid appropriate behaviours for their safety and others.

She also informed about the facilities available at UPHC including free medicines and counselling for all kinds of ailments.

Swedezhono Tsükrü, principal of Mount Olive College, while thanking the medical fraternity for rendering “heart warming services” to keep everyone safe especially through the most trying times, hoped to strive to build a healthier society with the college now having its own health committee, a red ribbon club and anti-tobacco cell. She further sought the guidance, support and encouragement from the medical personnel for the same.

Later, a general health screening was conducted in the college where scores of students and staff both availed doctor consultation including basic laboratory services and medicines.