World No Tobacco Day 2020: Political will sought to fight tobacco menace

“Now Covid-19 has reached us and if people continue to spit here and there it becomes very dangerous for the community”

Our Correspondent
Kohima, May 30 (EMN): As Nagaland commemorates the ‘World No Tobacco Day’ on May 31 on the theme ‘Protecting youth from industry manipulation and preventing them from tobacco and nicotine use,’ concerned department has sought strong political will and intervention from the political leadership to fight the menace.

Even as Nagaland is placed in the second least tobacco prevalent state next to Sikkim in the Northeast region, Dr. Chiekroshuyi Tetseo, state nodal officer under National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) from the department of Health and Family Welfare, maintained that social acceptance of tobacco habits in the state was high and taken a toll on the society.

Speaking to Eastern Mirror, Tetseo cited cases of people with pre-existing health conditions being more prone to developing complications, diseases and including Covid-19. The officer maintained that smokers and tobacco users have high rates of comorbidity: cancer, cardio-vascular disease, diabetes, pulmonary disease and others.

“Now Covid-19 has reached us and if people continue to spit here and there it becomes very dangerous for the community,” warned Tetseo.
Pointing out to the government’s order on the ban of gutkha and tobacco products and spitting in public places under the Disaster Management Act and section 188 of Indian Penal Code (IPC), the officer stressed that the implementation on the ban of tobacco must be done in letter and in spirit.
In this regard, he said that “a strong political will and intervention from the political leadership is required.” He added, “We cannot continue like this to sit, tobacco has taken a toll on our society with so many health complications and are dying prematurely. We cannot remain complacent, and the need of the hour is political will to come forward and contain this.”

He also asserted that churches must come up to create awareness and fight against tobacco that is taking a toll on the society.

Even as the lockdown due to the pandemic has reduced major programmes, Tetseo stated that its campaign against tobacco has not been totally put to a halt. He said over 300 tobacco-free schools and colleges are extensively campaigning by putting up images of no tobacco on their social media handles and profile pictures amongst the students.

Besides, he added that information, education and communication (IEC) and other online activities would be carried out in the all the districts. He added that its campaign would be synchronised even on All India Radio (AIR) for over 38 days.

Expressing fear and risks of Covid-19 transmission among the community from spitting after tobacco consumptions, Tetseo stressed on the need to creating awareness on the precautionary measures.