China: Beijing Enrolls Anti-smoking Volunteers

Source from:  China Radio International 08/10/2015

An advert with a message from World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Margaret Chan stating 'Thumbs Up to Beijing' in reference to an upcoming implementation of a smoking ban is displayed at a subway station in Beijing, China, 30 May 2015. World No Tobacco Day is marked annually on 31 May, while Beijing prepares to implement a new smoking ban starting 01 June.

Nearly ten thousands volunteers will be mobilized to help the enforcement of a blanket smoking ban in Beijing, which took effect on June 1.

Authorities in the city are encouraging more people to join the anti-smoking team to ease the shortage of law enforcement personnel

Two months after Beijing introduced the new smoking ban local authorities describe the control efforts as satisfactory.

However, they are confronted with a shortage of personnel- there are more than 4 million smokers in the city, but only around 1,000 law enforcement personnel to police the anti-smoking ban.

Zhang Jianshu, head of Beijing Association on Tobacco Control says they are now recruiting volunteers to support the smoking ban.

Nearly ten thousands people have registered online.

"They are from all walks of life. We previously predicted that most of them will be retired people. The youngest one is only 14 years old, while the oldest 81."

Zhang Jianshu adds the registration system is still open to the public. Those registered will receive training before they start working.

"We plan to set up a network to cover all the volunteers in different enterprises and institutions. Volunteers will not only file complaints but also handle them. We will forward complaints related to their own workplaces to them."

Among the registered volunteers are some senior anti-smoking activists.

A woman surnamed Liu is one of them.

"At first those smokers were unwilling to accept our persuasion. But, later they would say thanks to us. The process, changing from rejection to acceptance, makes us feel warm. And so do they."

Mei Hongguang, vice director of Beijing Patriotic Public Health Campaign Committee calls on more people to join the team to stop smokers from lighting up.

"We have 1.8 million enterprises and institutions in Beijing, and more than 4 million smokers. Based on those huge figures, a smoking ban in the city is an unprecedented job. Before June 1, many people doubted whether we could make it or not. Now, two months have passed, everybody has seen the progress."

The committee is now soliciting designs for an anti-smoking badge.

Volunteers will wear the newly-designed badges to identify themselves in the future. Enditem