ANTI TOBACCO AWARENESS PROGRAM IN ST. CLARE SCHOOL AKULUTO
On Monday 15th April 2024, DTCC Zunheboto organized an anti-tobacco awareness program in St. Clare School Akuluto. Around 105 students from Classes VII to X took part in the program. Mr. Mughashe Sema, the District Program Officer of the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), delivered a PowerPoint presentation on the harmful effects of Tobacco. Mr. Mughashe mentioned that the DTCC team had conducted similar awareness programs in several schools across Zunheboto District during the week. He also encouraged other schools to join in and follow tobacco-free school guidelines.

According to the information provided, Tobacco consumption is more prevalent in China, and next to China, tobacco consumption is more common in India. Around 700,000–900,000 deaths occur every year in India due to tobacco usage. Tobacco use is attributed to around six million deaths every year worldwide, out of which 5 million deaths are caused by direct tobacco use and even passive smokers are also affected by second hand smoke. Nearly 50% of the individuals who use tobacco will prone to die due to heart diseases, bronchus inflammation, and respiratory problems. Diseases related with tobacco use causes around sixty lakhs death each year.

Tobacco use is one of the major causes of preventable deaths worldwide, more so in developing countries. The tobacco situation in India is distinctive because of a wide spectrum of tobacco products available for smoking as well as smokeless use. Beedi usage and chewing tobacco have been practiced for ages in India.

Smoke produced from burning the leaves of tobacco plants is breathed in during cigarette consumption. Inflammation of the periodontium is more common among smokers, which leads to loss of tooth among smokers compared to those who do not smoke. Smoking has been considered one among the risk factors for various systemic problems, including respiratory diseases, lung cancer, and coronary diseases. There is massive evidence that the use of tobacco induces ill effects in the oral cavity including change in tooth color and oral cancer. Most of the oral health issues caused by tobacco can be prevented and their onset can be reversed. Smoking is one among the factors which is related with high morbidity diseases, according to the World Health Organization's common risk factor approach.

Report by Fr Stephen Dsouza, Capuchin

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