Nagaland holds state-level workshop on tobacco control

Kohima, October 22 (MExN): The Directorate of Health and Family Welfare (DH&FW), Nagaland, in collaboration with Vital Strategies, organised a state-level orientation workshop on tobacco control under the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) at the DH&FW Conference Hall here on October 22.The workshop began with welcome remarks by Dr Reyosalu Lase Vizo, Additional Director (Dental), DH&FW, followed by an inaugural address by Dr I Arenla Walling, Director (Dental), DH&FW.Delivering the keynote address, Additional Secretary of Municipal Affairs T Nchumbemo Odyuo, NCS, highlighted the link between municipal administration and effective tobacco regulation.He outlined the rationale and legal provisions of tobacco control laws and said Tobacco Vendor Licensing (TVL) was designed to be vendor-friendly, affordable and accessible. He urged government enforcement agencies to actively explore and implement the licensing mechanism.Odyuo also stressed the need for sustained public awareness campaigns, particularly among young people, disadvantaged groups and vulnerable sections of society who bear a significant burden of tobacco-related harm.Dr Chiekroshuyi Tetseo, retired Director (Dental), DH&FW, attended as the guest of honour and delivered remarks on municipal regulations and the legal framework for tobacco vendor licensing in Nagaland. Dr Hansa Kundu, Technical Advisor at Vital Strategies, presented a national update on TVL.Dr I Simon Sumi, State Nodal Officer for NTCP Nagaland, presented an overview of the epidemiological burden of tobacco use at the state and national levels, followed by detailed deliberations on tobacco retail vendor licensing.Dr Neingutunuo Angami, District Nodal Officer, shared field-level updates on the implementation of TVL in Kohima.Dr Kundu subsequently conducted sessions on the enforcement of Sections 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003.Concluding the technical sessions, Dr Upendra Singh Bhadauria, Technical Specialist (Cessation) at Vital Strategies, presented strategies for establishing tobacco-free villages. He also introduced a proposed web-based application to track and monitor the implementation of tobacco control initiatives across Nagaland.The workshop aimed to strengthen understanding of tobacco control provisions and promote coordinated implementation of licensing and enforcement measures across the state.The programme was organised by the State Tobacco Control Cell under the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, Nagaland.