Dr Chiekroshuyi Tetseo, Joint Director and State Nodal Officer NTCP speaking at the orientation on ‘Revised Guidelines for ToFEI and Introduction of Tobacco Free Nagaland App’ held at Hammock Resort Conference hall Wokha on August 24.
NTCP Wokha organises orientation programme
Wokha, August 24 (MExN): Dr Chiekroshuyi Tetseo, Joint Director and State Nodal Officer National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) emphasised on the alarming rate of tobacco use in Nagaland and the need for intervention. A huge segment of our population is taking tobacco and many people avoid the topic, he said. Informing that in Nagaland, 43 percent of age group between 13 to 15 years are using tobacco as per report of Global Youth Tobacco Survey-4, 2019, he added that tobacco intervention is important for brain development and reinforcement of behaviour, he added.
Dr Tetseo was speaking at the orientation programme on ‘Revised Guidelines for Tobacco Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) and Introduction of Tobacco Free Nagaland App’ organised by the District Tobacco Control Cell, NTCP Wokha, at Hammock Resort Conference hall Wokha on August 24.
Chairperson, Dr Daisy Ovung, District Nodal Officer, NTCP Wokha welcomed the resource persons, police officials and representatives of educational institutions to the programme.
Resource person Dr Meribeni Odyuo, Deputy Director and State Nodal Officer, National Oral Health Programme, DoHFW Nagaland, spoke on the need to strengthen tobacco control in educational institutions. She lauded the efforts of tobacco free village Yikhum for establishing a de-addiction centre. “The enthusiasm they have shown is commendable and we should instill the ill effects of tobacco use in younger generation,” she said.
Dr Tetseo meanwhile appreciated the active role of NTCP Wokha in controlling tobacco usage and described it as one of the best performing districts in the state. He said the programme was organised to remind the educational institutions of activities related to tobacco use and update on the revised guidelines issued by the Government of India. He informed the new app is going to be very comprehensive and it will be used extensively at homes and educational institutions.
He later explained the objectives of tobacco-free educational institution and how the vulnerable section of the society has been affected due to tobacco use. Regarding legal provisions on tobacco, Dr Tetseo informed about COTPA 2003 and the provisions under it.
The Tobacco Free Nagaland App was launched by Achilo Murry, Senior District Education Officer, Wokha along with Dr Tetseo. More than 38 participants attended the one day orientation programme. Vote of thanks was delivered by Tshope u Khutsoh, Psychologist NTCP.
