Cigarettes ads beat anti-smoking campaign

Cigarettes ads beat anti-smoking campaign

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Heart Foundation says its anti-
smoking campaign has been overshadowed by a barrage of
advertising launched by cigarette producers through the mass
media.

Association chairwoman L.A. Hanifah said smoking is still the
chief cause of heart disease, the number one cause of death in
Indonesia.

"Smoking, especially among teenagers, is a serious concern for
us," Hanifah said at the launching of National Heart Week on
Thursday.

"But our campaign against smoking is being beaten by cigarette
advertising in the mass media," she added.

Cigarette producers, one of the biggest spenders on
advertising, have circumvented a government ban on cigarette
advertising using promotional material that does not mention
explicitly the product being marketed.

National Heart Week, which ends on Nov. 16, was opened by
Minister of Health Sujudi. Among those in attendance at the
ceremony was Jakarta Vice Governor for Social Welfare R.S.Museno.

The week, organized by the Indonesian Heart Foundation in
cooperation with private companies, will include seminars, social
activities and sports events.

Despite the obstacles, Hanifah said the foundation's campaign
has not been complete waste, judging from the increasing number
of public places that have been declared no-smoking areas, such
as government offices and restaurants.

Meanwhile, on the occasion of the National Health Day which
falls tomorrow, the government plans to launch a campaign to
reduce children and maternal mortality rates.

As part of the campaign, the Ministry of Health next year will
start administering vaccines against Hepatitis-B on all newly
born children in 10 provinces where the diseases is most
prevalent.

President Soeharto today is scheduled to launch the first
production of the vaccine at the factory of state-owned Bio Farma
in Bandung, West Java. (31)