Nagaland has the highest use of pan masala with tobacco in India with a prevalence of 21%, Dr Chiekroshuyi Tetseo, Additional Director, State Nodal Officer, National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), Directorate of Health & Family Welfare (DoHFW) said on Wednesday. He also said that according to the Global youth tobacco survey GYST- 4 2019, 42% of youth between 13 – 15 years use tobacco.
Dr Tetseo was giving a presentation on the topic ‘Tobacco Scenario in Nagaland’ at the State-Level Workshop for Non-Communicable Diseases-Nutrition, Lifestyle and Management, at the Secretariat Conference Hall, Kohima.
He added that Nagaland is the 7th and 8th most tobacco-prevalent state amongst the North Eastern states, pointing out that 13% of the population indulges in smoking tobacco and 30% in smokeless tobacco usage and 8.9 % use both smoking and smokeless tobacco.
AHoDs and HoDs of Health & Family Welfare, Social Welfare, School Education, Urban Development, Higher Education, IPR, Youth Resources, and Food & Civil Supplies were present for discussion in the workshop.
Secretary, DoHFW, Asangla Imti said the workshop was to discuss with inputs from the departments about the current state scenario complemented by data available to look for any shortfalls and limitations, the prevention and control measures based on the hazard risk factors, multi-Sectoral approach, priority areas that are lacking and focusing on potential areas, and discuss programme basing on the topic in the block level, district level, and rural level.
Principal Secretary and Development Commissioner, Amardeep S Bhatia, IAS, in his virtual speech, asked the officers to draft the non-communicable diseases prevalent in Nagaland and see what the potential solutions to the problems are.
Joint Director and Special Project Office (SPO), National Health Mission (NHM), Dr Mereninla Senlen gave a PowerPoint presentation on the topic ‘National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardio Vascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS)’. She pointed out that at present, Nagaland has 1 State NCD cell, 11 district NCD clinics and 25 CHC NCD clinics and the activities include Population Based Screening (PBS), Opportunistic Screening Management of common NCDs, counselling, physiotherapy, health promotion including use of IEC for Behavioural Change Communication.
Dr John Kemp, SPO, National Iodine Deficiency Disorder Control Programme (NIDDCP), while highlighting the Pradhan Matri National Dialysis Programme (PMNDP) said the four districts where PMNDP through Fairfax India Charitable Foundation Limited has provided the Haemodialysis machines were NHAK, Mokokchung, Dimapur, and Tuensang districts. He also gave suggestions for modifying, refined, and changing for better outcomes for these units.
Dr T Bendangtula, Assistant Director AYUSH, in her presentation said AYUSH facilities exist in three intergraded Hospitals, 49 Health & Wellness Centres, and 49 doctors. She also said that the services given are AYUSH ODP, Hypertension & Diabetes screening, Yoga sessions, Herbal Garden, and participation in VHND where screening and awareness talks are given.
Dr Atsung Aier from Christian Institute of Health Sciences and Research (CIHSR) Dimapur and Dr Along from Eden Hospital Dimapur also participated in the discussion.
