DIMAPUR — A total of 33 schools including government high schools (GHS), government middle schools (GMD) and government primary schools (GPS) in Wokha district were declared tobacco-free.
The declaration was made during the quarterly meeting of district level co-ordination committee and district level enforcement squad under National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), Wokha, held at the conference hall of the deputy commissioner’s office on May 6.
A DIPR report stated that the SDO of Wokha, Nuhuta Tunyi, gave away certificates to the tobacco-free schools during the meeting.
Presenting the NTCP quarterly report, senior dental surgeon and district nodal officer of NTCP, Dr. Chenithung Yanthan, informed that 103 out of the total 191 schools in Wokha district have been declared tobacco-free. He added that efforts are on to declare the remaining 88 schools as tobacco-free.
Dr. Yanthan also informed that out of 65 heath centres, 50 have already been declared tobacco-free, while five villages under Wokha district have also been declared tobacco-free.
The district education officer (DEO) of Wokha informed that necessary information and direction would be issued to the remaining 88 schools to ensure early implementation for declaration of tobacco-free schools.
Meanwhile, the SDO informed all the members and stakeholders to give concerted efforts to achieve targets of the various activities under NTCP and to reduce the use of tobacco. He further encouraged the team to undertake intensive awareness campaigns and sensitisation programmes to create awareness among the public about the harmful effect of tobacco consumption.