Anti - tobacco awareness campaign launched in Tunisia
Tunis , May, 26, 2007 (TunisiaOnline)--Tunisian authorities are taking drastic steps in view of banning smoking from public places and sensitizing the younger generation as to the dangers of smoking. On the occasion of the International Day against Smoking on May 31, 2007 , Tunisia has launched a campaign to fight against smoking. The slogan adopted this year is “no smoking in public spaces”.
TV and radio ads, conferences, study days and student awareness sessions are taking place throughout the country, coupled with graphic presentations emphasizing the high cost of this addiction. The administration of school and university medicine has played a vital role in this campaign which was originally initiated in 2001. With the help of the International Health Organisation, the National Committee against Smoking held several meetings to set up the key points of this sensitization compaign.
One of the major goals of this campain is to lower the percentage of all categories of smokers by 25% in the next ten years all the more so as smoking is widespread among both men and women. Thus, according to a study carried out by the National Health Institute 47% of men and 9% of women between 35 and 70 years old, are active smokers, added to the large number of teenage and young smokers.
The National Committee against Smoking also aims at lowering the rate of smoke induced diseases, and that of people dying at an early age especially that smoking kills 5 000 men and 850 Women a year. In doing so, it is adopting both a soft and hard approach. Enforcing the existing regulations while encouraging smokers to seek medical council in order to stop damaging their health and those of non-smokers or passive smokers.
From now on, all cigarette packs will invariably include on their cover the following slogan: “ smoking kills”. Following the new regulations, this slogan should use some 20% of the surface of the pack and should be on both sides.
Authorities hope that by launching a vigorous anti-smoking campaign, younger smokers, which are on the increase, will be discouraged from pursuing their deadly habit.
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