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Members of district agencies and Flying Squad who enforce tobacco control, met on September 18 at the district hospital conference hall in Wokha.[/caption]
Dimapur, Sep. 18 (EMN): The quarterly meeting of members of the district tobacco control cell, district level coordination committee, district level enforcement squad, and the Flying Squad was conducted on September 18 in the district hospital of Wokha.
The government publicity agency the department of Information and Public Relations (IPR) gave updates on Wednesday offering details about the meeting.
During the meeting, the medical superintendent of Dr. Motsuo Memorial District Hospital, Dr. Tumcobeni Kikon gave away certificates to tobacco-free zone establishments namely Axis Bank, Smile Dental Clinic, Deputy Commissioner’s Office and the hospital itself. The superintendent gave away the certificates on behalf of the district tobacco control cell and the National Tobacco Control Programme.
Kikon talked about the tobacco-free zone policy at the meeting.
Kikon said that a tobacco-free environment helps create a safe and healthy environment.
‘Smoking and second hand smoke are known to cause serious lung diseases, heart diseases and cancer,’ she said. “We all need to recognise the hazards caused by tobacco use and exposure to second hand tobacco smoke and adopt policy to provide a tobacco-free environment for all patients, visitors and staff.”
The policy covers the smoking of any tobacco product and the use of all oral tobacco products including “spit” tobacco and e-cigarettes, the IPR stated.
The district nodal officer of the National Tobacco Control Programme, Dr. Meribeni Odyuo reviewed matters of the group’s previous meeting. She said enforcement alone will not work unless the public is educated about the “ill effect” of tobacco use and sale of tobacco products.
Odyuo was stated to have requested the district administration and the School Education department in the district to issue notifications to ban smoking at police stations and public transports areas, besides prohibiting sale of tobacco products near educational institutions. They were also urged to the set up signboards stating warnings in this regard, the IPR stated.
