Tobacco Control laws needed for schools

Our Correspondent
Kohima | July 24

The need to effectively implement tobacco control laws in educational institutions was stressed at today’s one-day district level workshop organized by the department of Health & Family Welfare, for school teachers of Kohima district here at Hotel Japfu.

Speaking at the occasion as the chief guest, state Project Director of the SSA Kevi Liegise said the availability of all kinds of tobacco in the state has contributed to ill-health of the population. “Tobacco is conquering our society and damaging our youth,” he said.  According to him, 70% of smokers die before the age of 30 years. Tobacco is indeed causing great  harm to everyone, he said and stressed on the need to control it before it is too late.

Referring to restrictions on the sale of tobacco products, within a radius of 100 yards from educational institutions, Liegise felt the need to find  ways to approach the state government for effective implementation.

Also, District Education Officer of Kohima, Zaveyi Nyekha wanted to see  a resolution  brought out from the workshop to make schools across the state  tobacco-free zones. No smoking zones or chewing of tobacco inside premises of educational institutions were called against. Dr. H. Chishi, Deputy Director and Programme Officer of NTCP, stressed  on the need to jointly fight to make tobacco-free schools and tobacco-free man and women in the state.

Further, Joint Director of Health & Family Welfare Dr. Savino said that the workshop was aimed to sensitize school teachers so they would become resource persons and pass the message to others. Likewise, it hoped to create awareness among students in their respective institutions. He was hopeful that teachers would  become role models after the workshop on tobacco control.

A source said that tobacco kills 4 million people every year globally, adding that it will become the leading cause of death by year 2020, killing 10 million people annually and also over 70 per cent of these 10 million tobacco-induced deaths will occur in India. Tobacco causes 90 deaths per hour in India and 2200 deaths a day killing 8 Lakh people.

Every two seconds, one Indian child tastes tobacco for the first time. 4 million children below the age of 15 years use tobacco regularly, while there are children in their teens who consume 5 to 15 packets of ‘gutkha’ (spiced tobacco mixture) each day. Due to easy availability and low pricing, children begin consuming the tobacco products while still in school, sources said.