Nagaland Health & Family Welfare Minister, P Paiwang Konyak and others during a high-level departmental review meeting on June 9 in Kohima. (Photo Courtesy: DH&FW)
Kohima, June 9 (MExN): Nagaland Minister for Health & Family Welfare (H&FW), P Paiwang Konyak on Tuesday called for a collective and coordinated approach to support the proposed one-year ban on tobacco across the state.
Emphasising collective responsibility towards public health during a high-level departmental review meeting on June 9, he called upon civil society organisations, churches and community leaders to extend their wholehearted support to the proposed ban.
Such a measure would significantly contribute to improving public health and safeguarding the younger generation from the harmful effects of tobacco consumption, Konyak said.
To this end, he urged all stakeholders to cooperate closely with the district administration and police authorities to ensure the effective implementation and enforcement of the initiative, according to a press release issued by the Department.
The State Government last week announced the imposition of a one-year statewide ban on the manufacture, storage, transportation, distribution and sale of all food products containing tobacco or nicotine as ingredients, citing public health concerns and directions from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
However, neither the announcement issued through the State DIPR nor the Department's June 9 release mentioned the effective date of the ban.
Meanwhile, while reviewing the department's performance and ongoing programmes, including preparedness for a potential Ebola outbreak, the 100-day mission under NQAS, and the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan campaign, Paiwang directed officials to strengthen outreach at the district level, enhance service delivery and ensure that government healthcare initiatives effectively reach grassroots populations.
State Nodal Officer, IDSP, Dr Nyan Kikon also apprised the meeting of the Ebola situation and informed members that no case has been detected in Nagaland so far.
The Department has, however, been directed to maintain heightened surveillance, strengthen preparedness at all levels and ensure prompt response mechanisms are in place as a precautionary measure, the release stated.
The meeting also reviewed ongoing projects, including Mon Medical College, NIMSR Kohima, projects under PM-DevINE and externally aided projects under NHP-III.
The status of projects in the pipeline, such as the establishment of trauma centres in various district hospitals, the upgradation of the State Mental Health Institute into a Centre of Excellence, the establishment of a State Cancer Institute and a State Allied Health Institute, the upgradation of NIMSR, and the establishment of a new AIIMS at Naga Ki, was also reviewed.
A team of consultants from JICA briefed the meeting on the Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences & Research (NIMSR).
The meeting deliberated on various health-related issues and reaffirmed the department's commitment to improving healthcare services across the state through greater coordination, community participation and district-level engagement, the release added.
Among others, Secretary H&FW S Tainiu Khiam and senior department officials attended the meeting.
