Every year, on 31 May, WHO and partners including Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre, mark World No Tobacco Day, highlighting the health risks associated with tobacco use and advocating for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption.
The World theme of this year’s campaign is "Ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship".
- Tobacco's toll: nearly 6 million people killed by tobacco each year.
- Tobacco's toll: 600 000 people die each year from exposure to second-hand smoke.
- Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) 63% of all deaths are caused by NCDs, with tobacco being the greatest risk factor.
In Bermuda, we are fortunate that a ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship already exist. However, this does not prevent people from smoking all together! The American Cancer Society states that 22% of youth under the age of 13; 15% of middle school students and 64% of high school students have tried smoking.
Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre, in partnership with Argus, is actively involved in local schools educating Bermuda youth (beginning in Primary 6) on the harmful effects of smoking and being exposed to second hand smoke – using the slogan “Don’t Start, Be LungSmart”. Education Officer, Ms. Rhonda Smith-Simmons says” By educating children at a young age on the dangers of cigarettes, it is hoped that they will be able to make informed decisions regarding usage and be less influenced by negative peer pressure”.
The current LungSmart Programme includes an interactive presentation on the Dangers of Smoking, pre and post presentation quiz to assess knowledge, “hands-on” examination of real pig lungs, and the opportunity for role play. This is completed during 2 classroom discussions and is aimed at reducing the number of school aged children who begin smoking (as measured by the Bermuda National School Survey (BNSS), and to encourage those who already smoke to become tobacco-free. The BNSS 2011 of Middle and Senior School Students on Alcohol, Tobacco, Other Drugs, and Health indicated a significant decrease in cigarette use from the survey given in 2007. In the latest survey 10.7% of students reported having ever used cigarettes (down from 21.9%) while only 2.5% indicated that they had used cigarettes within the past 30 days (down from 4.5%)
Smoking is the most preventable cause of death in our society. Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre provides FREE health talks to companies and organizations on the risks of smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke. The Charity also partners with local smoking cessation programmes to assist people to quit smoking.
If you are interested in having the LungSmart programme at your school or a presentation at your place of work or organization, contact the Centre by calling 236-1001 or by sending an email to rsmith.simmons@chc.bm.
