By Jocelyn P Alvarez
ZAMBOANGA CITY - Despite health awareness on the dire consequences
of tobacco/cigarette smoking, still, many men and women, young and old alike,
can’t resist but puff the addictive stuff.
As a matter of fact, 17.3 million Filipino adults age 15 years and older
are current tobacco smokers according to the results of the 2009 Global Adult
Tobacco Survey (GATS) released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Smoking damages just about every organ of the body and trail
blaze to the general deterioration of health of the smoker. It is associated with the big C- cancer;respiratory
disease,cardiovascular disease and its effects are widespread that include
damage to skin, eyes and mouth.
There is no mantra that enumerates “responsible smoking”,
because in the first place, smoking is never responsible.If it were, one would
not start smoking. In one way or the other, smoking is somewhatbeing unfair to
your health and to the second hand smokers.
Health studies said exposure to secondhand smoke
is believed to cause lung cancer or heart disease
deaths of about 49,000 non-smokers every year. Nonsmokers who are
exposed tosecondhand smoke have a 25 to 30 percent
increase in their heart disease risk and a 20 to 30 percent increase in their
lung cancer risk.
Children whose parents or caregivers smoke have an increased
risk of asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, coughing, wheezing, and ear infections.
Babies of smokers have a higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS.
It’s time to put the cigarette butt out!
RTCN reiterates call for RA9211 implementation
The
Regional Tobacco Control Network (RTCN) headed by the Department of Heath
reiterated its call for the observance and strict implementation of RA9211
or the "Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003," during its meeting held
October 15 in one of the local hotels here.
“It’s long overdue that each of us do our own share of
responsibility,” said Teresita De La Cruz of DOH 9.
RA
9211 isthe law that regulates the packaging, use, sale, distribution and
advertisement of tobacco products. RA 9211 protects the people from hazardous
tobacco smoke, promotes the right of the people to health and instills health
consciousness.
De La Cruz said RA 9211 assigns places where smoking is
absolutely banned or prohibited. “When you say absolutely prohibited, meaning
the place cannot have designated smoking areas or DSAs,” she explained.
Places included in the smoking ban
Places or areas included in the smoking ban include:a. centers
of youth activity such as playschools, preparatory schools, elementary schools,
colleges and universities, youth hostels, and recreational facilities for
persons under 18 years old.
Elevators and stairwells are also areas included in the
ban; gas stations and storage areas for flammable liquids, gas explosives or
combustible materials; within the building and premises of: public and private
hospitals, medical clinics, dental clinics, optical clinics, health centers,
nursing homes, dispensaries, laboratories; public conveyance like jeepneys,
buses , taxis and tricycles and food preparation areas .
“Government
offices included in the smoking ban under RA 9211 are Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Department of
Education (DepEd) and other offices that offer social services,” De La Cruz
enumerated