SHILLONG/NONGSTOIN, May 31: With the involvement of more than 8,400 schools from across the state, the anti-tobacco campaign in Meghalaya ended in a buoyant mood with students in different districts marching to localities and spreading awareness on the harmful effects of tobacco on the environment and, of course, its users.
On the concluding day of the campaign, a function on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day on this year’s theme, ‘Tobacco – Threat to our Environment’, was held at the State Convention Centre here on Tuesday, by National Health Mission (NHM) in collaboration with the Education department and Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan.
In his address, Additional Secretary, Health and Family Welfare department, and NHM Director, Ram Kumar S, pointed out that Meghalaya is the cancer capital of India as far as esophagus, lungs, nose and throat cancers are concerned.
In this context, he emphasised on the need for early screening and change in lifestyle habits.
According to Kumar, the involvement of schools at the district and block level has played an important role in creating awareness on the impact of tobacco on people’s health, community and environment.
Stating that village headmen, parents, MLAs, and religious leaders have also supported this campaign, the NHM Director said that if similar programmes are conducted every six months, “we will surely see behavioral changes in the community towards tobacco”.
He also lauded the Police department for initiating a special drive on COTPA implementation to conclude the World No Tobacco Day 2022 campaign.
Speaking as the chief guest of the programme, Additional Chief Secretary, DP Wahlang, lauded the convergence and joined efforts of the Health and Education departments and Sambandh Health Foundation for conducting the “strong” anti-tobacco campaign in the state.
Reminding the gathering about the detrimental effects of tobacco, both on the environment and health, Wahlang urged the students to avoid tobacco, while urging them to become ambassadors of the anti-tobacco campaign by spreading the message starting from their homes, schools and the society at large.
An in-depth presentation was made on the World No Tobacco Day activities by Senior Dental Surgeon, SNO, National Tobacco Control Programme, Dr Lana E Lyngdoh Nongbri, wherein the active involvement of schools in the campaign at the state, district and block level were highlighted.
A total of 8,405 schools participated with 7,677 rallies and 7,464 schools doing the signature campaign, Nongbri informed the gathering.
On the day, prizes were awarded to schools who won the rally and signature campaign competitions, whereas officials and staff of the Education department were felicitated for their role and support in the implementation of the Tobacco Free Education Institution (ToFEI).
A brief felicitation programme was held at the chamber of the Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills here during which Deputy Commissioner Isawanda Laloo handed over trophies to the winners of the competition.
The district-level winners of the rally and signature campaign competition are School & Centre-Hearing Handicap LP School, Shillong (Primary Level), Christian Full Gospel Fellowship SSA UP School, Nongshken, Pynursla (Upper Primary Level), Mount Zion Secondary School, Sohryngkham (Secondary Level), and Asorphi Academy Higher Secondary School, Pynursla (Higher Secondary Level).
Under Shillong Municipality and Cantonment, the winners of the rally and signature campaign competition are School & Centre-Hearing Handicap LP School, Shillong (Primary Level), Sunderland Memorial SSA UP School, Laban (Upper Primary Level), Gorkha Pathshala Higher Secondary School (Secondary Level) and Divine Saviour Higher Secondary School, Laitumkhrah (Higher Secondary Level).
MORE EVENTS
Even on the concluding day, there was some action as part of the anti-tobacco campaign.
The National Service Scheme (NSS) unit of Shillong Commerce College organised an anti-tobacco rally on Tuesday, during which placards were displayed and students actively engaged in sloganeering against tobacco consumption. Apart from student NSS volunteers, programme officers also participated in the rally.
A lecture to spread awareness on the subject was also organised on the day wherein the college doctor spoke about the harmful effects of tobacco use.
Joining the campaign, William Carey University observed the World No Tobacco Day along with the NSS Cell of the University with great enthusiasm. The day at the university was marked by talks by NEIGRIHMS doctors on the ill-effects of tobacco on society and forensic medicine.
Students also put in their signatures as a commitment to say no to tobacco. A street play was also performed by the students of the Department of Social Work of the University conveying the message on the harmful effects of tobacco.
At the Martin Luther Christian University (MLCU), the Department of Allied Health Sciences of the University organised a two-day event to observe the World No Tobacco Day which included a formal event on Monday and a community outreach programme on Tuesday.
In his address as the chief guest of the programme, Residential Medical Officer in charge of Dialysis Unit, and the Head Quality-cum-Quality Manager & Accreditation Coordinator, Bethany Hospital, Shillong, Dr Kyntiewlang Sanmiet, spoke in depth about the various effects of tobacco use in our lives stating that a very high rate of youth and youngsters are becoming tobacco users.
The rise in numbers of health cases caused by this increase is alarming, he said, while adding that every year, the tobacco industry costs the world more than 8 million human lives, 600 million trees, 2 lakh hectares of land, 22 billion tonnes of water and 84 million tonnes of CO2.
A short role play was also performed by the students of the department to depict the rise of tobacco use among the youths and its impact on them and the environment.
On Tuesday, students from the department went out to the community to spread awareness on the ills of using tobacco.
Meanwhile, underprivileged children at SPARK, an NGO working to uplift the weaker section of the society, went from house to house creating awareness on the impact of tobacco on the environment and it being a threat to the environment.
A signature campaign was also carried out urging the people to extend their support towards ban on the use of tobacco.
The programme was held at Bara Bazaar Slum, Mawlynrei, Triashnong, Mawlong, Pongkung and Rangmen Nongsder villages which saw the participation of more than 400 children who reached out to over 500 households.
In Nongstoin, West Khasi Hills, the occasion was observed at a programme organised by the office of the District School Education Officer (DSEO), West Khasi Hills.
Prizes were distributed to the district-level winners for rally and signature campaign against tobacco.
Speaking on the occasion, DSEO of West Khasi Hills, L Syiemlieh, stressed on the need to create a new perspective and find ways and means to eradicate the usage of tobacco and ensure that schools are tobacco-free. Syiemlieh thanked the school teachers and students for participating in the campaign.