No Tobacco Day
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 31 2022:
State Health Society under National Health Mission (NHM) and Health and Family Welfare Department jointly observed World No Tobacco Day at BT Road, here, today.
The observance was held under the theme "Tobacco : Threat to our Environment" and it was graced by Health Director Dr K Rajo, State Mission Director of NHM Dr Somrojit Ningombam and Additional Director of Family Welfare Services Dr N Dihe Mao as presidium members.
At the occasion, Dr Rajo said that tobacco is a very dangerous intoxicant which poses serious health risk and can cause serious ailments if consumed or smoked.
"Not only it affects our health, tobacco is also harmful to the environment and our economy as its waste can pollute soils and water bodies among others," he said and added that tobacco contains about 7,000 chemicals out of which 70 of them can cause cancer.
"Even an exposure to secondhand smoke is harmful to our health," Dr Rajo said and the increase of cancer cases in North East India is attributable to increase in tobacco consumption rate, either in the form of chewing or smoking.
Continuing that the Government will put all efforts to reduce tobacco use in one way or another, Dr Rajo maintained that the Government has also been discouraging the consumption of tobacco products by hiking its price, banning in places and regulating advertisement of the same.
However, the Government alone cannot control the problem of tobacco consumption, Dr Rajo explained and appealed to all to stop smoking or chewing tobacco.
The gathering also took a pledge to quit tobacco consumption.