The World Health Organization (WHO) has chosen Meghalaya for the World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) Award-2023, in recognition of the state’s accomplishments in the area of tobacco control.
The award will be presented to the State Tobacco Control Cell (STCC).
Every year, WHO recognizes individuals or organizations in each of the six WHO Regions for their accomplishments in the area of tobacco control. This recognition takes the form of WHO Director-General Special Recognition Awards, World No Tobacco Day Awards, and in 2023, one WHO Director-General’s Special Recognition Certificate.
Meghalaya wins the award under South-East Asia Region.
It may be mentioned as per data, 34 per cent of 13-15 years old and 47 per cent of those aged 15 and above consume tobacco in Meghalaya.
While World No Tobacco Day is observed every year on May 31, the State is on a war footing by launching campaigns across 12 districts asking all schools to carry out two activities – a rally against tobacco and a signature campaign. It is part of the Tobacco Free Educational Institutions programme that was launched in the state in March 2021 in collaboration with Sambandh Health Foundation.
This year’s No Tobacco Day theme in the state is ‘My Meghalaya – Tobacco-Free Meghalaya’.
The government also announced that Rs 6.17 lakh in fines were collected during the 2022-23 financial year from smokers in the state.
