Tobacco control cell, Wokha conducts quarterly meeting

Dimapur, Sep. 22 (EMN): Tobacco control cell, district level coordination committee, district level enforcement squad and flying squad, National Tobacco Control Programmed (NTCP) Wokha conducted its quarterly meeting at the official chamber of the deputy commissioner, Wokha on September 22, a DIPR update stated.

Dr.Daisy Ovung, senior dental surgeon and DNO, NTCP Wokha, who recently took charge as the new Nodal Officer NTCP, Wokha, presented the quarterly report where she highlighted the activities undertaken from the month of April to September 2020. She stated that three IEC campaigns were conducted on Independence Day along with prize distribution for online poster painting competition, consultative meeting on tobacco prohibition, and distribution of tobacco use and Covid-19 flyers.

Ovung also stated that to study the pattern of tobacco use among the youths and to find the reasons for use, focus group discussion (FGD) was conducted with youth leaders and adult community leaders where counselling to quit tobacco and pharmacotherapy were given to the participants, it read. Enforcement drive around schools and colleges was also carried out on September 11 where 15 defaulters were penalised for violation of COTPA under section 6 (B). Anti-tobacco advocacy campaign was also conducted in two villages, it stated.

She also highlighted the up-coming events like advocacy programme in collaboration with Social Welfare department at Chukitong. Five sessions of FGD with tobacco users in five colonies, five trainings with PRI/teachers and NGOs and enforcement activities are also to be conducted, it added.