Imphal, May 31: As in other parts of the world, the World No Tobacco Day was observed today at the Radiotherapy Department of Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Lamphel.

Organised by the Department, a seminar on �Health Consequences of Tobacco Intake� followed by a workshop on �Tobacco Replacement Therapy� was held to mark the occasion.

Director of RIMS Prof L Fimate and Superintendent of the Hospital Prof S Arunchandra inaugurated function as chief guest and president respectively.

In his address, Prof Fimate said although it was considered fashionable to smoke cigarettes earlier, it is now becoming another fashionable statement to give up the habit.

Highlighting the harmful effects of Tobacco consumption, Prof Fimate pointed out that it causes not only cancer but associated diseases of heart and circulatory and respiratory diseases.

As part of the observance, a seminar on Health Consequences of Tobacco Intake was held with Prof N Tombi Singh and Prof L Joychand Singh as chairpersons and Dr Y Indibor Singh and Prof Th Tomcha Singh as resource persons.

Presenting his seminar paper, Prof Tomcha noted that there are over 4000 different compounds in Tobacco and over 40 of these substances including benzopyrene, nitrosamines, vinyl chloride, arsenic, chromium and nickel are known to be cancer causing.

According to WHO report, he pointed out that more than a billion people use tobacco in one form or another.

Out of these 200 million are women.

Inspite of many anti-tobacco programmes only 2 to 3 percent become non-user each year, hence the number of users remain static.

While mortality rate among non-smokers has remained stable, death rates among smokers from lung cancer, coronary heart disease and other smoking related diseases has increased from 26 to 155 per 100,000 in women and from 187 to 341 per 100,000 among men.

Later a workshop on Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) was held with Dr Y Indibor resource persons.

He said that NRT in conjunction with behavioural support and motivation are more successful than NRT alone.

Trials with nicotine gums as NRT seem to be more rewarding specially when combined with counselling.

Dosing of NRT varies according to the degree of addiction.

Simply prescribing NRT won't do, he said.

Free NRT gums known as Nulife were also distributed free of cost among the participates through the courtesy of Mumbai based Elder Pharmaceuticals Limited.

The Charik Pareng Child Welfare Assn and Manipur Voluntary Health Association observed �World No Tobacco Day� today at Ramji Prabhu Mandav, Wangkhei Ningthem Pukhri Mapal.

Attended by about 30 persons (female) Dr Sabitri Khuman and staff nurse Th Kananbala speaking as resource persons gave a detailed account on ill-effects of tobacco use by the females.

Charging cinema medium and cigarette giants as the greatest hurdle faced by anti-tobacco campaigners experts at the observance prevailed upon the gathering to spread awareness so that the upcoming generation especially the women do not fall prey to the promotional efforts of the tobacco companies.

They also recalled of 192 member nations of WHO finally signing an accord in 2003 to restrict tobacco companies from luring the people through extravagant promotion of tobacco items.

The day was also observed at PRDA Training hall, Bishnupur under the joint auspices of the People�s Resource Development Assn (PRDA), Nehru Yuva Kendra (Bishnupur) and Manipur Voluntary Health Assn, Imphal.

Similar observances were organised at Thangmeiband Khomdram Selungba Leikai office premise of Organisation for Social Care and Research (Oscar) and at ACGRU Chaijol Kangsang in Wangkhei Koijam Leikai.

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