A one-day seminar on HIV /AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and tobacco control was held on Friday at District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) centre, Zunheboto.
Dr Esther Chophy, district nodal officer for National Tobacco Control Program (NTCP), Akiho Chophy, monitoring and evaluation assistant District AIDS Prevention and Control Unit (DAPCU), Dr Tonoto, Medical Officer, and Anatoli Kiba, treatment supervisor NTEP (National Tuberculosis Elimination programme), were the resource persons at the seminar.
The officials informed that the cases of HIV, TB and tobacco were very high in the district and awareness programmes were much needed to tackle the issue. Spreading the knowledge among the public and especially students in the district will help spread awareness among masses, they said.
The officials also added that citizens can avail facilities such as free screening of HIV, T Band, and opium substitution therapy (OST) at Government Hospital for zero cost.
Participants of the seminar.
Dr Esther Chophy, while speaking about the harmful effects of tobacco, said tobacco is a slow killing substance and that 90% of all cancers were tobacco related. She presented her points using the visuals of cancer patients from District Hospital Dimapur.
Akiho Chophy said that the government of India is very concerned about HIV/AIDS as it has no cure. He, however, said that it can be prevented and talked about the early signs and symptoms of HIV/AIDS.
Resource persons at the seminar.
Dr Tonoto talked about the dangerous recreational drugs that are common in Zunheboto like the ‘sunflower’ (heroine) drug and the ways in which such drugs harm a person. He also shared on ways to avoid drug.
Anatoli Kiba spoke about how TB is spread, how it is diagnosed and its treatments. He also enlightened the participants on how to prevent contracting TB.
Students getting free blood tests after the seminar.
The seminar was attended by around 120 students, teachers and medical staffs.
After the talks, carbon dioxide level was checked on students. Blood test was also done free of cost.
