World No Tobacco Day is celebrated every year on 31st May, 2025, to spread awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco and encourage young people to lead a healthy, tobacco-free life. The theme for this year was, “Unmasking the Appeal: Exposing Industry Tactics on Tobacco and Nicotine Products”, which focused on revealing the tactics that tobacco and nicotine industries use, to make their harmful products seem attractive.

With an aim to cultivate similar values of responsibility among students, Charis High Academy also organised an awareness programme for the senior students of Classes 6-10 in collaboration with the District Tobacco Control Cell, Dimapur, Health and Family Welfare department, Nagaland.

With Dr. Temjennungsang Longchari, Chief Consultant Dental Touch and Facial Aesthetics, Duncan, Dimapur as the Resource Person, the programme commenced with the introductory remark from the Wellness teacher.

Dr. Temjennungsang who has been with the Anti Tobacco Cell Dimapur Cell for the past 14 years shared his insights on treating patients affected by tobacco use. He described the emotional and physical toll tobacco takes on individuals and their families, emphasizing that many patients only seek help when the damage is already severe.

He also highlighted common tobacco-related illnesses he encounters in his clinic and shared several cases, where different patients, some as young as 20, suffered irreversible damage due to chewing tobacco.

Expressing his concern over the huge number of tobacco users in the state, he urged the students to abstain from tobacco products and spread the awareness towards their family and society.

Meanwhile, Martina of Class 8 was declared the winner of the school’s two-day poster-making competition for Classes 5-8, while Imsensang of Class 7 and Thepfusazo of Class 8 were deemed the first and second runners-up, respectively.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks by the Principal, who acknowledged the contributions of all those who made the event a success.