Dimapur, March 13 (EMN): Trainees in social work from the North East Institute of Social Science and Research (NEISSR) organized a community ‘tobacco awareness programme’ at Seluophe village on March 8.
The programme was organized in collaboration with the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) of Dimapur district, updates on Monday informed. The trainees highlighted to the participants the ill effects of tobacco consumption through a street play.
Dr. C Tetso of the NTCP spoke on the rampant consumption of ‘gutkha’ especially among the Naga youth.
‘People do not pay much heed to the awareness about the ill effects of tobacco consumption. Even those who are well aware and educated about the impact of tobacco on health still hold on to their habit of tobacco consumption as the immediate detrimental effects is not felt,’ he told the gathering.
He added that many young Nagas were falling prey to tobacco consumption.
‘The most obvious effects are lesion, cancer of mouth and other body organs. However, not many are aware that tobacco has subtle effects like hypertension, fluctuation in body weight etc,’ he said.
The health official also proposed to the leaders and youth to ‘think and work towards making Seluophe, a tobacco free village and set example for the other villages to follow.’
Seluophe village is a model village under the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana Scheme.
About 30 youths from the village along besides trainees in social work, who are at Seluophe for a 10-days camp attended the event. Pamphlets and information brochures stating the ill effects of tobacco were also distributed during the programme, it was informed.
