Mizo Churches Go on Anti-Tobacco Drive

Aizawl, Oct 16 : Churches in Mizoram have always championed a social cause, and this time they have taken up the crusade of battling consumption of tobacco. The 2009-2010 Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) conducted by the International Institute for Population Sciences for the Union ministry of health and family welfare, said the rate of consumption is 67 per cent in Mizoram. The prevalent rate of tobacco use in the Northeast is 44 per cent, slightly lower than the eastern region, which is 45 per cent.

Again, Mizoram is the highest tobacco smoking state at 39 per cent. The tobacco smoking rate for the Northeast is 19.3 per cent, against the national rate of 14 per cent. Meghalaya is second in tobacco smoking at 35.7 per cent followed by Nagaland with 31.7 per cent.

Mizoram is only behind Nagaland in the consumption of smokeless tobacco. Consumption of smokeless tobacco in Nagaland is 45.3 per cent while in Mizoram it is 40.7 per cent. Bihar tops in the use of smokeless tobacco at 49 per cent.

Mizoram State Tobacco Control Society (MSTCS) nodal officer, Jane R Ralte, said churches of all denominations across the state are now taking up the leading role to spread awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco consumption.

"Anti-tobacco messages have now become a part of Sunday ceremonies in churches. In the Sunday preaching, pastors quote from the Bible on the harmful effects of tobacco consumption. The involvement of churches in the anti-tobacco campaign is gradually becoming an effective tool to fight the menace," Ralte said.

He added that churches have also started giving power-point presentations on the harmful effects of tobacco consumption during Sunday ceremonies. Chief minister Lalthanhawla and his wife are also supporting the cause. On Saturday, the Northeast fact sheet on the findings of GATS was released where senior bureaucrats and health officials were present. "There are laws for checking the prevalence of tobacco uses, and the state government should implement this legislation so that the menace is effectively curbed. It is a good move that churches, the chief minister and his wife are actively behind the anti-tobacco campaign," said Union health ministry chief medical officer Jagdish Kaur.

"We are seeing significant changes in terms of tobacco consumption. Smoking at public place in Mizoram has come down to 18 per cent from 65 per cent in recent time because of active anti-tobacco campaigns, and churches have a significant role to play in this," said Ralte.

The survey interviewed 15,259 people in the age group of 15 and above. All the Northeast states have surpassed the national average of 34.6 per cent in the consumption of tobacco products.