No Tobacco Day: Meghalaya Wins Award From WHO For Its Outstanding Tobacco Control Efforts

SHILLONG: The World Health Organization has awarded Meghalaya, the prestigious World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) Award-2023 in honor of its efforts and successes in the field of tobacco reduction. The State Tobacco Control Cell (STCC), Meghalaya, will get the honour.

The WHO honours people and groups from each of the six WHO regions each year for their noteworthy efforts in the struggle against the risks associated with tobacco use.

Taking on twitter, Dr. Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh, Minister of Health & Family Welfare Department announced, "Our State has been awarded by the WHO for our efforts on Tobacco Control Program which is in collaboration with the Education Department and the Police Department. A big congratulation to all the Schools across the State who took the initiative thru rallies & signature campaign."

State Tobacco Control Cell (STCC), Meghalaya; Centre for Multi-Disciplinary Development Research, Dharwad, Karnataka; Indonesian Multiculture Farmers Forum, Indonesia; and National Statistical Office, Thailand are among this year's honorees from the South-East Asia Region.

The State Tobacco Control Cell of Meghalaya received the renowned WHO Director-South-East General's Asia Region Award this year.

Countless significant accomplishments have been made in the anti-tobacco effort, including the active participation of about 7,975 schools throughout in Meghalaya. According to a statement, up to 4,9 lakh students have enthusiastically backed the campaign, displaying their everlasting commitment to the cause.

The programme has successfully raised widespread awareness and involvement with a reach of more than 3,500 villages. Additionally, a total of 7,388 protests have been staged, energising locals and giving the campaign against tobacco a significant boost.

Another indication of the campaign's effectiveness is the amazing signature drive that was launched over the past few months, which shows how strongly people feel about and are committed to a world without tobacco.

Meghalaya has already started initiatives, inviting all schools to participate in two activities: a march against tobacco and a signature campaign. World No Tobacco Day is marked annually on May 31.

It is a component of the state's "tobacco-free educational institutions programme," which was introduced in 2021.

According to research, in Meghalaya, 47% of people aged 15 and over and 34% of those between the ages of 13 and 15 smoke.

'My Meghalaya - Tobacco-Free Meghalaya' is the state's World No Tobacco Day theme for this year.