Sensitization programme on tobacco held in Kohima

Kohima:The Junior Specialist of the Naga Hospital Authority of Kohima (NHAK) Dr. K. Rosy Yhome, has revealed that in India alone 2200 people day every day due to tobacco use and globally and 5.4 million people die yearly and there are 1 billion smokers in the world (women 20 per cent) adding 90 per cent of oral cancers are due to tobacco use.
Addressing the Sensitization programme for colony leaders under Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) on harmful effect of tobacco and COTPA 2003 was organized by District Tobacco Control Cell of Kohima district, at Kohima on Thursday Dr. Yhome, speaking on the topic ‘Burdens of tobacco’ said the tobacco consumption and its consequences has become utmost important because it is the world’s leading single agent of death which is preventable.
She said India is the largest number of oral cancer in the world where 40 per cent of oral cancers in India are due to tobacco and every 8 seconds an Indian dies due to tobacco related disease.
She informed that Naga-land state is the second highest tobacco users with 56 per cent in the country next to Mizoram with 57 per cent and Goa the least with 9 per cent only. She said unless urgent action is taken, tobacco will kills 1 billion people in this century.
Dr. Yhome said 4000 poisonous substances in tobacco can cause hair loss, She also highlighted some of the short term effects of tobacco use like increase heart rate and blood pres-sure, smelly hair, bad breath, stained teeth, damage to gum tissue, tooth decay, reduced sense of smell and taste, troubled breathing, increased sensitivity to cold and heat. She also said it affects economy and environment. (UNI)