Special guest Dr Sendimeren Aonok, Managing Direct NIIK and others during World No Tobacco Day at Kohima on May 31. (DIPR Photo)
Kohima, June 1 (MExN): District Tobacco Control Cell, Kohima organised World No Tobacco Day at Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK) with Managing Director, NHAK Dr Sendimeren Aonok on May 31.
Addressing the function, Aonok said that a new initiative was taken by the State Tobacco Control Cell, National Tobacco Control Program to take anti-tobacco campaigns from Tobacco-Free Schools to Tobacco-Free Homes under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
A DIPR report stated that he encouraged the institutions and also the students to adopt tobacco-free guidelines of the NTCB to be declared tobacco-free.
He gave away the certificate to the winners of the essay competition. Ketsino Jane Frances from St Paul school, Phesama bagged the first position, Kinzinnang Gonmei of Daintybuds School, and Lipuni from Model Hr Sec School bagged second and third positions respectively while Thushila Victoria from MHBHSS and Rose Mary Hemrom from Don Bosco HSS, Zubza were in the fourth position. DTCC Kohima declared 10 Tobacco Free Homes from Fernwood HSS and MHBHSS.
District Nodal Officer NTCP, Dr I Simon Sumi briefed on the objectives of the Tobacco-Free Home campaign. ‘When the students are motivated and given in charge of creating anti-tobacco awareness in their homes, there is huge potential to take this campaign to thousands of homes. To be eligible for a tobacco-free home badge, a simple checklist is given to the intending students which need to be first complied with. When they are ready, the tobacco-free pledge is signed by the head of the family,’ he stated.
He also said that the most important thing one needs to do for tobacco control is awareness and it should start with schools and homes.
Earlier, Dr Pfukrolo Koza Junior Dental Specialist spoke on the theme 'We need food, Not tobacco' while Dr Adiya Appn MDS, Assistant Professor delivered the vote of thanks.
