DC Wokha K Mhathung Tsanglao along with officials during the launching of Tobacco Free Youth Campaign 4.0 in Wokha on October 30. (DIPR Photo)
Wokha, October 30 (MExN): The Wokha Town Council and the Police Station here have been declared tobacco-free offices, even as the district administration launched the Tobacco Free Youth Campaign (TFYC) 4.0, a 60-day initiative aimed at intensifying awareness, enforcement and community participation against tobacco use.
The announcements were made during the quarterly meeting of the District Level Coordination Committee (DLCC) under the District Tobacco Control Cell (DTCC), National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), Wokha, chaired by Deputy Commissioner K. Mhathung Tsanglao at the DC's Conference Hall.
Dr Kihito Awomi, Senior Dental Surgeon and District Nodal Officer (NTCP), Wokha, presented the activities of the DTCC and outlined the objectives of TFYC 4.0, emphasising strategies for declaring more offices and villages tobacco-free.
The district currently has 119 educational institutions, 47 health centres, one dental clinic, four offices, one police station, one bank and seven villages declared tobacco-free, officials said. As many as 30 defaulters were booked under Sections 4 and 6(a,b) of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003.
Activities undertaken included coverage of public and private schools, counselling of 132 clients, pharmaceutical support to eight individuals, 20 IEC coverages, eight focus group discussions and two community awareness programmes.
The meeting noted that 43.3 per cent of adults in Nagaland use tobacco, significantly higher than the national average of 28.6 per cent, with Wokha, Zunheboto and Tuensang districts identified as leading in consumption.
TFYC 4.0 aims to achieve a 50 per cent increase in coverage through strict enforcement of the COTPA Act, enhanced public awareness, educational outreach and widespread dissemination of information across public and private platforms, a DIPR report added.
