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Health
Promotion Agency calls for smoking ban decision on World
No Tobacco Day – 31
May 2005
The Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland (HPA) is
calling on Health Minister, Shaun Woodward, to make an announcement
on smoking in enclosed public places and workplaces, in the
run up to World No Tobacco Day (WNTD), 31 May.
Dr Brian Gaffney,
Chief Executive of the HPA, said: "The
Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety received
over 70,000 responses to the consultation on smoking which
ended in March, and it’s now time a decision was made.
Smoking is the single greatest preventable cause of premature
death and avoidable illness and around 3,000 people die from
smoking related diseases in Northern Ireland every year.”
New research carried out by the HPA in February this year,
revealed an increase in support for smokefree workplaces.
The results showed that 74% believed that enclosed public
places in Northern Ireland should be completely smokefree
and 68% said they would support a law to make all workplaces
smokefree.
Dr Gaffney continued: “Bringing in smokefree workplaces
would be one of the best ways to tackle smoking related illnesses
and we would ask the government to stop dragging their heels
and make a decision imminently. There is growing demand for
a smokefree Northern Ireland and already a number of businesses
and organisations are operating smokefree policies. We would
encourage those employers who don’t already have a
no-smoking policy in their workplace to implement one now
and not to wait for it to be enforced.”
According to the World Health Organization, tobacco is the
second major cause of death worldwide and is currently responsible
for the death of one in ten adults (about 5 million deaths
each year). If current smoking patterns continue, by 2020
it will be the cause of 10 million deaths each year. This
means that half the people that smoke today (about 650 million
people) will eventually die from tobacco related illnesses.*
END
Notes to the editors
WNTD was first held in
1988 and is the only global event where smokers around the
world unite to break free from their
dependence on tobacco. This year’s WNTD is focused
on the role of health professionals in tobacco control.
For people who want to quit smoking, the Smokers’ Helpline – Tel:
0800 85 85 85 offers a free service providing support, information
and advice. The helpline is staffed by trained counsellors
who can direct callers to smoking cessation groups in their
area, and provide advice and support over the phone. An information
pack to help employers introduce a no-smoking policy in the
workplace can be obtained from the Smokers’ Helpline
or by contacting HSENI - Tel: 0800 0320 121.
*www.who.int/tobacco/health_priority/en (accessed on May
27, 2005).
For
further information contact
Rosie McGaughey at the HPA Press Office on 028 9031 1611.
Email: r.mcgaughey@hpani.org.uk.
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