Dimapur, May 29 (EMN): The number of people, especially young students, using tobacco in Nagaland point to a worrying phase for the state if data from health authorities are anything to consider.
A meeting to review work and progress of the National Tobacco Control Program (NTCP) in Nagaland was conducted on May 28 at the directorate of Health and Family Welfare in Kohima.
The government’s publicity agency, the department of Information and Public Relations (IPR) gave updates on Wednesday about said event.
District officers, psychologists and social workers from the districts attended the program, the IPR informed.
Dr. H Hotokhu Chishi, additional director, presented the NTCP score card from 2014-2018. The medical officer said that in Nagaland, the ‘tobacco profile’ in the age group 8-13 years in school indicating 28.3% of them are already on ‘tobacco habits,’ while 15% smoke and 41.2% of school children buying tobacco products for their relatives and parents.
This data is alarming as has been indicated by the Nagaland School Oral health survey of 2013-2014, he said. The matter is a great concern for the state as a whole, the officials were told.
The Global Adult Tobacco survey that was undertaken during 2009-2010 indicated that tobacco consumption totals to 56.8%, the second highest in India.
The smokers accounted for 31.5%, smokeless tobacco users 45.3%, second-hand or passive smoke exposure at home 79.7%, and second-hand or passive smoke exposure at work accounted for 32%, the updates stated.
Further, the average monthly expenditure on cigarette for daily smokers accounts for INR 689.6 and the average monthly expenditure on ‘bidi,’ a rolled joint, for daily smokers was INR 116.3.
The survey conducted during 2016-2017 indicated that tobacco consumption in Nagaland had been minimized to 43.3%, while the number of smokers were reduced to 13.2%.
However second-hand and passive exposure to smoke at home still remains at a staggering 67.6% and at workplaces 23.3%.
The average monthly expenditure on cigarettes increased to INR 1473.9 while the average monthly expenditure on ‘bidi’ rose to INR 265.5, the officials were told.
Chishi urged the health officials to ‘re-commit’ themselves and exert more efforts to further reduce the prevalent status, the updates from the IPR stated.
The officials were given a highlight of counselling protocols and protocols of Nicotine replacement therapy, the IPR added.
