A few weeks ago, much ahead of World No Tobacco Day, an editorial in these columns had termed tobacco as a ‘serial killer’ and rightly so as the statistics related to tobacco consumption was horrifying. Since tobacco consumption in all its various forms has become a mundane thing—now accepted as a way of life even in a Christian State of Nagaland, we tend to brush off the health hazards associated with it merely under the carpet. And it is only during a day in a year such as world no tobacco day that all of us are awakened to the reality associated with this harmful substance. As someone has suggested, we need a lifetime of ‘no tobacco’ and not merely a day in the year to counter the ill effects. Coming back to the hard facts, tobacco consumption is a leading cause of death among Indians aged 30-69 and 1 million Indians die from smoking-related diseases each year in India. Then among all women, 11% (over 54 million women) use some form of tobacco and approximately 1 in 20 (or 90,000) deaths among women 35-69 years old can be attributed to smoking. Further tobacco use causes lung and other cancers, respiratory/heart disease, heart attacks, and other diseases. Smokeless tobacco, which is very popular even among women, causes oral cancer, pancreatic cancer, increased blood pressure /heart rate and adverse reproductive outcomes. Consumption of smokeless tobacco during pregnancy decreases gestational age at birth and decreases birth weight.
The statistics related to Nagaland is even scarier. According to a survey 48% of the people in Nagaland are tobacco users. This statistic is indeed a matter of deep concern for all of us. The survey concludes that tobacco use including smoking was very high, even among girls, in all eight states in the North-eastern part of India. In general schools did not educate students about the hazards of tobacco use, it was pointed out. Let us face it; tobacco consumption has become a chronic habit and one which has become socially acceptable as a way of life. And this is the crux of the problem. The fight against tobacco consumption is not going to be easy. As mentioned almost half the population of the State is indulging in such habit. Likewise, the State has the duty to not only enact sensible laws for tobacco control, but also enforce them strictly—something which is lacking. One of the measures suggested is to create mass awareness on the ill effects of tobacco consumption. The State Health & Family Welfare Department should urgently design appropriate messages both in English and local dialects and undertake awareness campaign across the State. Different mass forums can also be identified such the Church, schools, colleges, festivals, youth events, road-shows etc. to disseminate information on the killer substance. Let this be known to all that tobacco consumption if not controlled will devour our youths.
