DIMAPUR OBSERVES WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY

District Tobacco Control Programme (DTCC) Dimapur in collaboration with CoE CIHSR (Christian Institute of Health Sciences and Research) celebrated World No Tobacco Day on 31st May at LG Hall, CIHSR. 

Dr. Reyosalu Lase Vizo, District Nodal Officer, DTCC spoke on the theme: ‘Tobacco: Threat to our environment’. She mentioned that next to food packets and plastics, tobacco wastes account for the second most littered items. Tobacco packets, cigarettes, and bidi butts contribute to environmental hazards. Also spitting in public places contributes to the spread of diseases like TB and covid-19.

The tobacco cultivation and curing process contribute to pollution, soil depletion, and loss of soil nutrients due to the heavy use of agrochemicals. Cigarette production kills about 377,000 football fields worth of trees every year leading to deforestation.

In the programme, winners of poster making competition was announced and awarded. Hope Academy won first place followed by Unity Christian Hr. Sec. School and Govt. Hr. Sec. School Diphupar- A respectively. 

A drama/skit was presented by students of Highland Hall School and a special song was presented by students of the college of Nursing CIHSR.

Also in the programme, Dr. Shirley, HOD Department of Radiotherapy, CIHSR stated that according to ICMR, the statistics for cancer are highest in the Northeast. Nagaland is known as the state of Nasopharyngeal cancer. And tobacco use greatly increases the risk of developing nasopharyngeal cancer.

The programme was attended by students of various schools and colleges of Dimapur, DNSU, Diphupar village council, officers from the Commissioner of Police office, NGOs, DLCC members, doctors, and staff of District Hospital Dimapur and CIHSR

Earlier, the programme chaired by Eloni Nurse CIHSR called upon the gathering to observe a minute of silence to pay tribute to late Fr. Joe Chinir who was one of the first members of the District Level Coordination Committee, DTCC, and a big supporter of Anti Tobacco campaign in the state. And late Chuba Jamir, who actively shared his testimony, warned the public about the ill effects of Tobacco after he got diagnosed with Oral Cancer. He passed away early this year. Many people have been positively influenced by this testimony and his anti-tobacco campaigns.

The programme began with an invocation by Aonuktsung Imchen Chaplain, CIHSR, and the welcome address by Dr. Clement Momin, MS CIHSR. Later, the vote of thanks was delivered by Temjenlen Tzudir, TCC coordinator CIHSR.

(DIPR)