Some 8,400 schools and 4.8 lakh children in Meghalaya took part in this year’s World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) in an attempt to encourage tobacco users to quit and to try and prevent the take-up of the product in the youth.
This year’s theme was ‘Protect the Environment’, highlighting that tobacco pollutes the planet and damages the health of all those who use it or are around those who use it.
In Meghalaya, the Departments of Education and Health, in collaboration with Sambandh Health Foundation (SHF), ran a campaign to create awareness on how tobacco is damaging our environment.
The campaign to create awareness on the WNTD theme in the state was rolled out through the SHF WNTD App from April 18 to May 20. Every school had to complete two activities – hold a rally against tobacco and a signature campaign with maximum student participation.
As a unique design of the signature campaign, each student had to read and explain to the community, family, friends as to how tobacco is harmful for our environment and get signatures. Schools which did both the activities with maximum student participation and signatures were eligible for awards.
To conclude this campaign, a ceremony was organised by the Department of Health with the support of the Education Department on World No Tobacco Day today.
“This year Meghalaya has created history and I am sure the alarming number of 8,000 deaths occurring every year due to tobacco will definitely reduce with our youth taking the lead against tobacco use,” chief guest and Additional Chief Secretary DP Wahlang said at the gathering.
Dr Lana Lyngdoh Nongbri, State Nodal Officer of the National Tobacco Control Programme, shared that totally 8,405 schools participated with 7,677 rallies and 7,464 school signature campaigns. The winners, she announced, were Mawkhar Pres English School of West Khasi Hills in the primary school category, Madankhliehriat Pres UP School of West Jaiñtia Hills in the upper primary category, Mother Angeles Secondary School of West Garo Hills in the secondary category and Nonglang HSS of West Khasi Hills in the higher secondary category.
Special recognition was given to two schools for children with disabilities who fully participated. Blocks with more than 80 percent of school participation were Bhoirymbong, Mawryngkneng and Pynursla and districts with more than 60 percent of school participation were Ri-Bhoi and West Jaiñtia Hills.
“Tobacco is consuming our people and children are the soft targets. The average life expectancy rate of citizens in Meghalaya is low at 62.3 years in comparison to the national average of 68.8,” Principal Secretary Sampath Kumar said. “Our state is ranked second in the country in terms of cancer prevalence among men while it is ranked 11th in the number of cancer cases among women. A decrease in tobacco prevalence would eventually help in improving life expectancy and reducing the burden of disease.”
National Health Mission, Meghalaya, Mission Director, Ram Kumar, informed that 34 percent of 13-15 years old and 47 percent of those aged 15 and above consume tobacco in Meghalaya.
Elsewhere, underprivileged children at SPARK also participated in raising their voice against the harm caused by tobacco products to people, public health, communities and the environment.
The programme was held at Ïewduh slum, Mawlynrei village, Traishnong village, Mawlong village, Pongkung village and Rangmen Nongsder village with more than 400 children participating in raising their voice against the use of tobacco reaching out to more than 500 households sensitising them on the ill effects of tobacco use on the health as well as environment.
The children went from house to house creating awareness on the impact of tobacco on the environment. A signature campaign was also carried out urging the people to extend their support towards the ban on the use of tobacco.
Stressing on this year’s theme “Protect the Environment”, the children stood and raised their voice highlighting how tobacco pollutes the planet and damages the health of all people.
Meanwhile, the National Service Scheme students at Shillong Commerce College organised an anti-tobacco rally today. Student NSS volunteers as well as programme officers participated in the rally, whereby posters and placards made by the students were displayed along with anti-tobacco slogans. An awareness lecture was also organised yesterday whereby the college doctor gave a talk to the students on the harmful effects of tobacco use.
In South West Khasi Hills, Maharam Government Higher Secondary School, Mawkyrwat, also held an anti-tobacco programme, which was attended by around 150 students. This was organised by the office of the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) in collaboration with the office of the District Medical and Health Officer.
Dr PM Nadon, District Nodal Officer of the National Tobacco Control Programme said that more Indians die of tobacco-related causes than of tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and malaria combined. He added that tobacco use is the single largest cause of preventable death worldwide. More than 2,000 Indians die due to tobacco every day and tobacco is responsible for 40 percent of all cancer cases in the country.
As to the environment, cigarette butts, which are made out of plastics, take decades to decompose and, if discarded when lit, can cause fires. Tobacco cultivation, while providing incomes to farmers, decreases soil fertility as it requires “high inputs of chemicals and fertilisers” which contaminate water bodies.
The gathering also heard from Kostarland Wanniang, a cancer survivor.
