Two villages, 12 schools declared tobacco-free in Wokha

DIMAPUR — The District Level Coordination Committee (DLCC) held its quarterly review meeting for the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) at the Deputy Commissioner conference hall, Wokha, on Wednesday.

The meeting was chaired by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Wokha, Vineet Kumar, according to a DIPR report.

In his address, the DC emphasised the need to revisit already certified tobacco-free campuses to ensure strict and sustained compliance. He appealed to institutional heads and village authorities to report any violations of tobacco control guidelines.

Tshopei Khutsoh, psychologist, District Tobacco Control Cell, presented the district’s current tobacco-free status. A total of 118 educational institutions, 17 health centres, one dental clinic, three government offices, and one bank have been declared tobacco-free centres.

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The meeting highlighted that according to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS-2), 43.3 per cent of adults in Nagaland use tobacco. The Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS-4) reports that 43 per cent of school-going children aged 13 to 15 are also tobacco users.

Two villages, Okotso and Shaki, were officially certified as tobacco-free villages during the meeting. Additionally, the Office of the Chief Medical Officer, Wokha, and the Office of the Superintendent of Police, Wokha, were declared tobacco-free.

Twelve schools were also newly certified: Government Primary School (GPS) Sanis Village, GPS Sunglup Village, GPS Pangti A, Government High School (GHS) Wozhuro, GPS Koio, GPS Ruchan, GPS Meriyan, GPS L Yanthung, Chukitong Area Baptist Mission School, GPS Aree New, and GHS Lotsu.