Jamaica: Minister Seeks Public Support for Smoking Ban

Source from:  Jamaica Observer (jm)  05/13/2013

HEALTH Minister Fenton Ferguson has called for public support and understanding as he moves to institute a ban on smoking in public spaces.

The minister said the dire situation of the nation's young people using tobacco demands that urgent action be taken.

"The 2010 Global Youth Tobacco Survey, undertaken by the National Council on Drug Abuse, indicates that 40.4 per cent of youth aged 13-15 have smoked at least once and at least 19.4 per cent of those who have ever smoked were under 10 years old. In addition, 70 per cent of the students surveyed indicated that they were exposed to second-hand smoke," Dr Ferguson said.

He was speaking at this week's opening of the Health and Wellness Expo at the Clan Carthy Primary school in Kingston.

Dr Ferguson said he was not declaring open season on smokers nor was he adopting an anti-smoker stance, but that he had a duty as health minister to protect the nation's health. He added that the smoking ban in public was in keeping with the ministry's strategic plan to combat the scourge of non-communicable or lifestyle-related diseases such as cancers and cardio-vascular disease.

"... Very often the bad choices adults make affect innocent young children for life," he said.

The annual Health and Wellness expo at Clan Carthy Primary was this year held under the theme 'Get Educated, Eat Healthy, Live Wealthy'.

Students mounted displays of charts and healthy foods, both prepared and unprepared, while there was participation from health agencies offering blood pressure and blood sugar tests along with HIV screening. Enditem