The Kros College in Kohima district today became the first college in Nagaland to be declared as having a 'Tobacco-Free Campus'.
The formal declaration was made during a community awareness programme on "Tobacco Free Living" held at Lerie Panchayat Hall here jointly organised by the Directorate of Health & Family Welfare Nagaland Kohima District Tobacco Control Cell under National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) and Anti-Tobacco Cell, Kros College Lerie.
The certificate of declaration was handed over by Joint Director and State Nodal Officer NTCP, HFW Nagaland, Dr H Hotokhu Chishi.
Making a power-point presentation on the Tobacco scenario, Dr Chishi said Nagaland is the second highest consumer of tobacco in the country.
Cigarette with 26.3 is the topmost commonly used tobacco products followed by khaini, betel, biri and pan masala (gutkha), he said during the presentation.
As per the Nagaland School Oral Health Survey 2014 report, 28.3 per cent of school going children are smokeless tobacco users while 36.6 per cent are into smoking habits and 41.1 per cent children are engaged by parents to buy tobacco.
On the district tobacco profile, he said Dimapur is the highest consumer followed by Kohima.
He said that strict enforcement is critical to the success of implementation of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act 2003.
District Nodal Officer DTCC-NTCP Dr. Arenla Walling emphasized on the need for the state to take serious steps towards enforcement of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act (COTPA) 2003.
