Dimapur, March 9 (MExN): Social work trainees of North East Institute of Social Science and Research (NEISSR) organized a community tobacco awareness programme at Seluophe village on March 8. The programme was organized in collaboration with National Tobacco Control Programme, Dimapur District. The trainees highlighted the ill effects of tobacco consumption through a street play.
Dr. C. Tetso of the NTCP spoke on the rampant consumption of ‘gutkha’ especially among the Naga youth. “People do not pay much heed to the awareness about the ill effects of tobacco consumption. Even those who are well aware and educated about the impact of tobacco on health still hold on to their habit of tobacco consumption as the immediate detrimental effects is not felt”, Dr Tetso said. He added that many young Nagas are falling prey to tobacco consumption. ‘The most obvious effects are lesion, cancer of mouth and other body organs. However, not many are aware that tobacco has subtle effects like hypertension, fluctuation in body weight etc’, he asserted. He also proposed to the leaders and youth present to think and work towards making Seluophe, a tobacco free village and set example for the other villages to follow. It may be mention that Seluophe is adopted as a model village under the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana Scheme.
The programme was attended by 30 youth from the village along with the soial work trainees who are at Seluophe for a 10 days Rural Camp. Pamphlets and information brochures on the ill effect of tobacco were also distributed.
