Kohima, April 8 (DIPR): Eleven educational institutions in Kohima district were declared ‘Tobacco Free Schools’ during the quarterly meeting of District Level Co-ordination Committee (DLCC) on Tobacco Control at DC’s conference hall here on April 7.
The institutes include Modern Institute of Teacher Training; Government Higher Secondary School, Seikhazou; Genesis High School; Government High School, PWD; Pinewood School; Government Middle School, Merhulietsa; Oking Christian School; St. Joseph School; Dainty Buds School; Regimental School, Thizama; and Mount Sinai Higher Secondary School.
Giving away the Certificate to schools/institute, Deputy Commissioner Kohima & Chairman DLCC, Rovilatuo Mor congratulated the institutions for fulfilling the criteria in achieving the title and hoped that they would continue to maintain the requirements and model in order to keep their institutions free from tobacco. He also urged the other schools/institutions to participate in making India tobacco free as the main objective of the COTPA 2003 is to make the country a tobacco free nation.
He further stated that the participation of the educational institutions was an important and essential factor to propagate and create awareness on tobacco control. He expressed optimism that active efforts, cooperation and co-ordination from the educational institutions will go a long way in creating Tobacco Free State in the course of time.
Joint Director, Health & Family Welfare and State Nodal Officer, Dr. Hotokhu Chishi while declaring the eleven Tobacco Free Schools/Institute highlighted the criteria on the selection of Tobacco Free Schools.
District Nodal Officer Kohima, Dr. Arenla Walling gave a PowerPoint presentation on the activities carried out by the District Tobacco Control Cell Kohima during the last quarter from September 2015 to March 2016. She highlighted that an awareness programme for Police Jawans and orientation programme for District Nodal Officer were conducted and DTCC Kohima distributed pamphlets on Tobacco Control at Kisama during the Hornbill festival 2015. She informed that a total of 354 tobacco users in the district, both smoking and smokeless, were given Counseling & NRT at the DTCC Kohima within the month of April 2015 to March 2016.
Reviewing the last meeting minutes of DLCC in regards to constitution of Tobacco Control Committee in all the Tobacco Free Schools, the DC suggested that one local GB be included in each Schools Tobacco Control Committee as member. He also asked all the eleven declared Tobacco Free Schools/Institutions to constitute Tobacco Control Committee in their respective institutions.
The meeting also deliberated on the following agenda: Smoke free Kohima city, Tobacco free village certification – Gariphema and World No Tobacco Day on May 31, 2016, where the members shared their views and suggestions for follow up action.
