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HPA adds weight to call for smoking ban in public
places
Figures
released today by the Health Promotion Agency for Northern
Ireland (HPA) add new weight to the case for a ban on smoking
in public places
in Northern
Ireland.
The figures were highlighted during the launch of the HPA’s
12th Annual report. Smoking has been one of the HPA’s
major priorities during the past year with the graphic
Every cigarette is doing you damage public information
campaign raising awareness of the hazards of smoking to
health. Now this latest research shows that there is much
support from people in Northern Ireland for smoking to
be banned in a variety of public places.
Dr Brian
Gaffney, Chief Executive of the HPA, said: “We
have been working hard with a range of organisations and
groups to raise awareness of the dangers of smoking and the
need to provide support to smokers who wish to stop. A recent
survey which questioned people on their attitudes to smoking
showed that most were in favour of a ban on smoking in specific
areas.
“For
instance, when asked if smoking should be banned in all
restaurants,
around three out of every five people
surveyed agreed with this statement. When asked if there
should be a total ban on smoking in hospitals, almost nine
out of ten people surveyed agreed this should be the case.
When asked if the health service should pay for smoking rooms
to be provided in hospitals, seven out of ten non smokers
disagreed and even half of current smokers disagreed too.
“This
research clearly shows that many people in Northern Ireland
do not
want an enjoyable evening in a restaurant
ruined by smoke, nor do they want valuable health service
resources being diverted to facilitate smoking rooms in hospitals.
More and more people here see non smoking as the norm and
expect a smoke free environment.”
Smoking
is just one of the HPA’s many business areas
highlighted in the Annual report, which provides
an overview of work undertaken during the year 2002-03. Other
health
issues featured in the report include alcohol, drugs, nutrition,
physical activity, sexual health, mental health, breastfeeding
and health protection.
The report also highlights the range of local partnerships,
cross border links and global alliances that have all contributed
to the HPA achieving its programme of work.
To support
the HPA ‘s work on all health and business
areas, the organisation has upgraded its corporate website
as part of its commitment to making health information more
accessible for the public and professionals. Visitors should
find the redesigned site more accessible, more user friendly
and containing the latest information relating to the HPA
and its work.
Dr Gaffney
concluded: “The Annual report shows
that we continue to work at the forefront of health development
and health promotion initiatives, providing regional leadership
and direction for health promotion in Northern Ireland. As
the HPA continues to develop we look forward to meeting and
overcoming new challenges in the year ahead.”
The HPA ‘s
website can be visited at www.healthpromotionagency.org.uk where
the Annual
report can be downloaded as a PDF. Print
copies of the annual report can be obtained from the HPA
offices.
END
Notes
to editors:
The Annual
report launch will take place at the Health Promotion
Agency at 10:00am. A media facility will be available at
10:30am when Dr Gaffney will be available for interview.
Figures taken from the Northern Ireland Social Omnibus Survey
- HPA Heart Health Questionnaire 2003 (unpublished).
For
further information:
Contact
Jenny Dougan on 028 9031 1611
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