Institution meeting criteria to get tobacco-free certification
Diana Fernandes
Margao : With schools set to reopen this month, the District Tobacco Control Cell under the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) has drawn up plans for stricter enforcement and awareness campaigns on tobacco control, including the use of e-cigarettes.
As part of World No Tobacco Day activities, the NTCP has launched a series of initiatives including screening camps and awareness sessions.
Anganwadi workers, auxiliary nursing workers, and extension educators from South Goa will participate in an awareness talk designed to address the issue from the grassroots.
“Over the past few years, our statistics point to the increase in incidence of chewed tobacco and smoke tobacco is decreasing,” said Nodal Officer for the NTCP in South Goa, Dr Sarah George said, adding that a large section of the migrant population uses tobacco, favouring the chewed variety.
With a many of the migrants sending their children to anganwadis, NTCP decided to create awareness among the children at anganwadis so that they can encourage their parents to stop using tobacco, said Dr George. “We are trying to do it at the grassroots level.”
Another focus area is e-cigarettes. Awareness on the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act is being built into school-level outreach, especially for teachers.
“E-cigarettes and its use are also on the rise. The sale of e-cigarettes is illegal. However, there is a high use of it. In schools, teachers sometimes don’t know what an e-cigarette looks like and so don’t know what to look for. It is sometimes in the shape of a USB or even a pen,” said Dr George.
Over the past six months, awareness programmes have stressed the illegality of e-cigarettes.
Plans are now in motion for surprise raids in schools. “This year we have written to the education department and encouraged them to have an e-cigarette raid when the schools reopen,” she said.
The programme also certifies tobacco-free educational institutions. Schools meeting the required criteria and guidelines are granted this certification.
