Police officers sensitised on COPTA

Sensitization programme for enforcement officers and flying squad on harmful effects of tobacco and Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Acts (COTPA) 2003 was organized by the National Tobacco Control Programme, Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, Kohima, at Conclave Conference Hall, LCS building, on Thursday.
Kohima Deputy Commissioner, Honje Konyak, in his inaugural address, said to disseminate about the harmful effects of tobacco is a seriously concern for everyone knowing the high percentage of tobacco usage in the state. He urged the responsible enforcement officers and flying squad members to see that citizen abide by the law. He advised the concerned officers to sensitize themselves with re-thinking and re-decide what is best for the people.
District Nodal Officer National Tobacco Control programme (NTCP), Dr. Arenla Walling, while highlighting about the aim and objective of NTCP, said tobacco is a single greatest preventable cause of death in the world today where more than 1 billion people worldwide currently smoke tobacco and it would kill more than 5 million people worldwide each year. She said if this trend continues it would kill 8 million people per year by 2030.
Giving the account of Nagaland scenario Dr. Walling disclosed that tobacco consumption in state is 57%, while school children smoking and tobacco users are 37% and 41% respectively. She said smoking causes cancer of lung, larynx, kidney, bladder, stomach, colon, oral cavity, oesophagus, leukaemia, chronic, bronchitis etc.
Additional Director (Dental), Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. N Savino, spoke on COTPA-2033 and prohibition of advertisement and regulation of trade and commerce, production, supply and distribution Act 2003, the prohibition of smoking in public places rules 2008 and others.
Kohima DC gave away certificates to 7 schools of Kohima for successfully implementing tobacco free school namely St. John School, Mewi School, GHS Chandmari, Mt. Carmel HSS, Don Bosco HSS, Chandmari HSS and Bayavü high school.
The programme was chaired by Dr. K Rosy Yhome, junior specialist NHAK. Enforcement officers, Flying squad, NGOs, school teachers, doctors and others attended the programme.