NONGPOH: Together with the rest of the world, the office of the National Health Mission, Ri Bhoi District also observed the World No Tobacco Day under the theme: “Tobacco and Lung Health” on Friday at Nongpoh Parish Hall.
Mayralborn Syiem MLA of Nongpoh graced the occasion as the chief guest in the presence of Dr M Mawrie, DM&HO, Dr G Mihsil Medical Superintendent, Dr N D Mawrie Dental Surgeon and other.
The programme commencing with a procession participated by students and teachers of the three schools, Auto drivers, Sumo drivers and Seng longkmie of Mawroh village, ASHAs and others from MUDA Complex Nongpoh proceeded to Parish Hall Nongpoh.
Dr V.G Mawlong, a Dental Surgeon, in her key-note address highlighted the negative impacts of tobacco and legal prohibitions on consuming of tobacco and penalties for those violating the law. She emphasized on the objective of the anti-tobacco campaign to ensure effective protection to non-smokers, protecting children and young people from being addicted to the use of tobacco and cigarette.
Furthermore, she also enlightened the gathering about the various actions taken by the government to curb tobacco use and other related products like ban on smoking in the public places, ban of advertising in any form, ban of sale of tobacco products to below 18 years of age and by minor age below 18years, ban of sale of tobacco products within 100 m of educational institutions.
Mayralborn Syiem in his speech to the gathering lauded the initiatives taken by the Health department for observing the programme as part of creating awareness among people about the effect of consuming of tobacco and its related products and said that tobacco is one of the major causes of cancer, hence he advised the young people to shun tobacco and cigarette and requested those who are in the habits of using these products to stop immediately and help each other to live a healthy and longer life in future.
The day’s activities also include prize distribution to the winners of slogan competitions participated by the drivers of auto rickshaw, sumo, women of Mawroh village and school children.