Firms urged to help smoke-free campaign

Firms urged to help smoke-free campaign

JAKARTA (JP): A government-endorsed smoke-free advocacy group
is launching a nationwide campaign to persuade companies to
declare a smoke-free environment during World No Tobacco Day
which falls on Thursday.

Chairman of the Coalition for a Healthy Indonesia, Doddy
Partomihardjo, said state and private institutions are being
invited to commit to the campaign.

"This campaign is aimed at educating smokers on the dangers of
smoking to non-smokers ... the public, the government and
legislators have to be more active with this nation-wide issue,"
he said.

On Thursday the coalition will also go live on private
television station TPI to get cumulative pledges for one million
hours of smoke-free environment.

Pledges can already be made now through a telephone hotline
(021-25500060), facsimile (021-21599599) or through their website
(http://www.visitel.co.id/wntd).

The program is part of a nationwide campaign under the
coordination of World Health Organization (WHO), in cooperation
with the Ministry of Health, the Indonesian Heart Foundation
(YJI), the Institution to Overcome Smoking Problems (LM3) and the
Indonesian Cancer Foundation (YKI).

A special award will be presented for companies or management
of public facilities which has initiated smoking-free areas.

The Coalition for a Healthy Indonesia is a non-profit
organization that supports the government's campaign for Healthy
Indonesia 2010 by disseminating information and providing
advocacy.

The coalition, a partner of the Ministry of Health and Social
Welfare, comprises 29 organizations and institutions that
include, among others, the National Family Planning Coordinating
Board (BKKBN) and the State Ministry for the Empowerment of
Women.

The coalition also provides counseling for those who encounter
difficulty in stopping smoking.

Protection

WHO acting representative for Indonesia, Mark Brooks, urged
the government to protect non-smokers by raising awareness in the
community of the serious health impact of passive smoking.

The theme of this year's campaign is "Second-hand smoke: Let's
clear the air."

"A study disclosed that non-smokers who breathe second-hand
smoke suffer many of the same diseases as regular smokers.
Whether it is at home, work, school, in restaurants, theaters or
bars, second-hand smoke is a proven health threat to the young
and old," Brooks told journalists.

Indonesia is believed to be a hazardous area for second-hand
smoke due to the increase of smokers, whose number is believed to
have reached 141.44 million.

Aulia Sani, the director of Harapan Kita Hospital, said the
government should raise awareness among children in the classroom
by teaching about the dangers of smoking.

"We will also urge the government to start a campaign of
providing a special space to isolate smokers from the non-smokers
in public spaces, such as terminals, airports, restaurants and
others," Aulia said.

Chairman of Food and Drug Control Agency (BPOM), Sampurno,
said the government had issued several presidential regulations
for smoke-free zones in public places and limited the
advertisement of tobacco products, but the implementation was
still not yet satisfactory.

Presidential spokesman Wimar Witoelar, who has been treated at
Harapan Kita for the last three days for a heart disease, was
wheeled in briefly to attend the media conference, as he is a
non-smoking activist.

Wimar is expected to be discharged on Saturday morning. (bby)