'About 55% of adults in the State use tobacco'
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR
Senapati, April 30 2019:
The District Health Society, Senapati today organised a one day orientation on the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) for the district stakeholder at DRDA Conference Hall.
A Koshia, Additional Public Prosecutor, Senapati and Dr Somorjit Ningombam, State Nodal Officer for NTCP attended the event as resource persons.
Dr Somorjit Ningombam, State Nodal Officer, NTCP speaking on the ill effect of tobacco, said that Manipur ranked 3rd in the consumption of tobacco and its product in India.
About 55% of adult in the State use tobacco spending an average of Rs 350 in a month by an individual.
He also said that tobacco is one of the common risk factors of major non-communicable diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease killing 6 million people every year while 0.6 million faced premature death due to passive smoking.
In India, tobacco kills 8-9 lakhs people every year.
2,500 Indian die every day of tobacco related diseases.
89% of smokers become addicted to tobacco by the age of 18 years, he added.
He mentioned that smokers have 20-25 times risk of developing lung cancer; 2-3 time risk of having heart attack; 3 time risk of sudden death and, 30-60 more sick days.
According to Global Adult Tobacco Survey, 275 million adults in India (15yrs and above) nearly 35% of the population consume tobacco; 206 million use smokeless tobacco (Khani, gutkha.
The initiation of tobacco use begin from 17- 18 yrs and exposure to second hand smoke remains high with 52.3% at home and 29% at public place.
Mouth cancer, throat, lungs, larynx, foodpipe, urinary bladder, kidney, pancreas and cervical cancer are common among the tobacco users.
Smoke contains 3095 chemicals out of which 28 have been proved as carcinogens that can lead to cancer.
He also highlighted some of the specific provisions of the COPTA provisions and guidelines.
Speaking on the tobacco and its legal aspect, A Koshia stated that Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 enacted by the Parliament on the 54th year of Republic of India was to prohibit the advertisement of, and to provide the regulation of Trade and Commerce in, and production, supply and distribution of, cigarettes and other tobacco products matter concerning therewith or incidental thereto.
The Act commenced on 1st May, 2003 received the assent of the President of India on the 18th May, 2003, she added.
She mentioned that the resolution passed by 39th World Health Assembly (WHO) in its plenary meeting on 15th May, 1986 urged the members to implement measures to ensure the effective protection to non-smokers from involuntary exposure to tobacco and protect children and young people from being addicted in the use of tobacco.
Meanwhile, 43rd World Health Assembly in its plenary meeting on the 17th May, 1990 show concerned for tobacco control and strategies plan for legislation and other effectiveness measures for protecting risk groups such as pregnant women and children from involuntary exposure, discourage its uses and impose progressive restrictions by eliminating all direct and indirect advertisement, promotion and sponsorship concerning tobacco.
She also highlighted the provision of the Act such as, prohibition of smoking tobacco in public places (except in special smoking zones in hotels, restaurants and airports) and open place visited by the public.
Tobacco products cannot be sold to persons under 18 years of age and within the 100 metres radius of educational institution.
Tobacco products shall bear appropriate pictorial warnings of a skull or scorpion or certain prescribed pictorial warning along with the text Smoking Kills and Tobacco causes mouth cancer both in Hindi and English, she said.
The District Health Society, Senapati also conducted blood test, sugar test, liver and kidney function test during the event.
Somorjit Salam, DC Senapati, DLOs and SDOs of the district attended the event.
Comment
