The State Tobacco Control Cell (STCC) of Meghalaya has been honoured with the highly esteemed World Health Organization (WHO) Director-South-East General’s Asia Region Award for its exceptional work in tobacco control. This recognition is a testament to the hard work of the dedicated team and to the importance of persistence in promoting public health and minimizing the adverse effects of tobacco use.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma expressed his joy at the development and emphasized that this award was an inspiration to continue working towards creating a healthier society. The campaign, which has now reached more than 3500 villages, has been a great success due to the support of nearly four lakh students and participation of nearly 7,975 schools. In addition, 7 388 rallies have been conducted throughout the course of the campaign, thus engaging the community and creating strong momentum against the use of tobacco. Furthermore, a signature campaign was held, indicating the broad support and commitment towards creating a tobacco-free society.
The STCC is a cellular division which works under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in Meghalaya. The major activities carried out by its members are to provide health education and awareness activities related to tobacco control, advocate for the introduction and implementation of non-smoking laws, control tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, and intensify anti-tobacco campaigns. The cellphone also works towards scaling up of capacity building activities as well as monitoring and evaluation.
Conrad K Sangma is the current Chief Minister of Meghalaya. He is a member of the National People’s Party and has been at the helm of the state since 2018. Sangma has been instrumental in the state’s socio-economic and political development and has also championed various initiatives for the betterment of Meghalaya’s citizens. This award is yet another testament to Sangma’s commitment to improve public health in the region. He encouraged everyone to continue their efforts in order to ensure that the future of Meghalaya remains healthy.
