Dimapur, October 20: National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) and the North East Institute of Social Sciences and Research (NEISSR) have launched a campaign called ‘Smoke Free Dimapur Campaign’ at the NEISSR on October 19.
Dr. C Tetseo of the NTCP of Dimapur informed the students of the institute about the importance of creating awareness about the ill effects of tobacco consumption, a press release from the organisers said. He expressed apprehension that “an epidemic is looming large over Nagaland because of the high consumption rate of tobacco.”
‘The Smoke Free Dimapur Campaign is not a campaign to ban smoking and use of tobacco products in Dimapur per se. But it is an initiative to create awareness among the smokers and the non smokers on the ill effects of first hand smoke and second hand smoke by requesting smokers not to smoke in public areas,’ the press release explained.
As future social workers, the trainees have an added responsibility to spread awareness on the impacts of tobacco consumption and the health issues associated with it, the medical official said.
While highlighting the provisions in the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Product Act of 2003, he expressed gratitude to the management of the NEISSR for declaring the institute a tobacco free campus. He exuded confidence that students from other colleges in and around Dimapur would follow in the footstep of the NEISSR and volunteer in making Dimapur a smoke-free zone.
Dr. CP Anto, Principal of the NEISSR, assured cooperation and collaboration of the institute in making Dimapur a smoke-free region. He expressed gratitude to the officials of the NTCP for coming forward with the proposal to collaborate in the noble initiative.
Altogether, 25 trainees from the NEISSR volunteered to ‘create awareness about smoking in public places and curbing the effects of tobacco,’ the press release stated.
