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Dimapur, May 31 (EMN): Along with the rest of the world, Nagaland observed the World No Tobacco Day on Sunday, with the theme "Protecting youth from industry manipulation and preventing them from tobacco and nicotine use."
In Kohima, the district tobacco control cell in collaboration with the tobacco-free educational institutions under Kohima district observed the day with participation from various schools and colleges of the district.
State nodal officer of the National Tobacco Control Program (NTCP), Dr. C Tetseo in his message, stated that the tobacco industry has employed all possible tactics for decades to attract new generations of tobacco users to replace millions of people dying every year. Therefore, he said that this year, the WHO has chosen the theme which exposes this lie and also seeks to empower the youth with knowledge and engage them in the fight against tobacco.
He was glad that tobacco-free schools in Kohima have actively participated despite of the difficult time. He also appreciated the DTCC for compiling the message into a documentary so as to spread the awareness. He hoped that it would encourage the students to involve in anti-tobacco campaigns in the future.
The students participated with slogans various slogans such as "Tobacco industries cannot manipulate my personal choice," "Be smart don't start," and "Be smart don't fall into the trap," to name a few.
To mark the occasion, the Dimapur district tobacco control cell carried out information education communication (IEC) based activities and released a short video to raise awareness on the urgent need to intervene and protect the vulnerable children from falling prey to tobacco industry tactics, informed an update.
The unit requested all stakeholders and policy makers to strengthen the tobacco control laws in the state.
In Kiphire, the NTCP led by Dr. Wekhrou Mero, dental surgeon of District Hospital, in collaboration with the district administration, DLCW, Mahila Shakti Kendra, and Sakhi-One Stop Centre observed the day by organising online poster campaign based on the theme.
According to the NTCP Kiphire, tobacco industries have been employing strategic, aggressive, and well resourced tactics to attract youth to tobacco and nicotine by flavours and designs that are attractive to youth, promotion of products as 'reduced harm' or 'cleaner' alternatives, influencer sponsorships, point-of-sale marketing at vendor outlets frequented by children, and sale of single stick cigarettes and other tobacco and nicotine products, among others.
To combat tobacco and nicotine industries’ tactics to attract new generation of tobacco users, World No Tobacco Day 2020 will provide a counter-marketing campaign in order to empower young people to engage in the fight against tobacco by debunking myths and exposing manipulation tactics used by tobacco industries, he said.
He further said that the campaign will emphasise on educating young people about the tobacco industries’ intentions and tactics and also aim to empower influencers and celebrities to protect the youth and engage them in the fight against tobacco.
Out of 26 participants of the online poster campaign competition, Atsala Sangtam was adjudged as the winner while Muwalila S Anar and Repila were placed in second and third respectively. Holila S Anar bagged the consolation prize.
Certificates will be presented to all the participants while cash prizes and certificates will be awarded to the first three winners, including a consolation prize, it informed.
Meanwhile, the NTCP Kiphire acknowledged Deputy Commissioner Sarita Yadav and her team, including DLCW, MSK, and Sakhi-One Stop Centre for their support and active involvement in making the day a grand success.
In Longleng, the day was commemorated with Deputy Commissioner M Shayung Phom as the special guest.
Dr. Bongau Phom, dental surgeon of the District Hospital Longleng, while speaking on the ocassion said that the campaign aims to sensitise the youths about the harmful effects of tobacco and expose the tactics of tobacco industry in attracting young people.
Phom said smokeless tobacco users have a tendency to spit in public places, thereby increasing the health risks especially those of spreading infection and contagious diseases like Covid-19, tuberculosis, swine flu, encephalitis, and others. The use of smokeless tobacco also creates unhygienic environment which further spreads diseases, he added.
He also spoke on tobacco and youth and how tobacco industry views developing countries as an untapped market, why people use tobacco, how to quit tobacco, and tobacco related diseases.
The deputy commissioner in his address informed that with the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs under National Disaster Management Act and on account of the World No Tobacco Day, spitting in public and work places would be punishable with monetary fine.
In order to implement this, he appealed to all the NGOs to join hands and work together to prohibit the use of smokeless tobacco products and spitting in public places to contain the spread of Covid-19 and other infectious and contagious diseases.
"With this enforcement we can live in a clean, healthy and hygienic environment," he added.
Also, the NTCP of Mokokchung unit observed the day by conducting an awareness programme in collaboration with AIR Mokokchung.
The team put up tobacco awareness billboards in strategic locations like petrol stations and market places around the town.
Dr. Sentirenla Jamir, oral and maxillofacial surgeon speech on the effects of tobacco consumption and how it can spread Covid-19 will be broadcasted in Ao dialect on June 1 through AIR, as part of the awareness programme and also to mark the occasion.
Commemorating the day, the Phek district administration and district level centre for Women-Mahila Shakti Kendra (Beti Bachao Beti Padhao) have urged youths to avoid use of tobacco as it can be fatal to health.
"Preventing youth from tobacco and nicotine use is even more imperative now, as we wage war against Covid-19," said Vilenuo Kapu, women welfare officer of the DLCW-MSK.
She said that during this pandemic, chewing of tobacco and spiting is more hazardous as it can increase the spread of the virus.