98% of WV LGUs with ordinances on anti-smoking
Some 98% of local government units in Western Visayas have anti-smoking ordinances.
This was disclosed by Dr. Erwin Solas, regional coordinator of the National Tobacco Prevention and Control Program of the Department of Health, Region 6, in a PIA interview.
Dr. Solas said that the local ordinances are really very important to raise the level of awareness of the public regarding the drastic effects of smoke to human body because tobacco continues to be a leading global killer.
Dr. Solas, who is the regional coordinator of the National Tobacco Prevention and Control Program of the Department of Health, Region 6, said that last May 31 No Smoking Day observance's theme was "Tobacco- Free Youth".
He said that the theme was focused on the children who are reported to be the target of some tobacco companies as replacement smokers, thus the DOH 6 has prepared relevant information materials for distribution to different schools in the region to help increase the level of awareness of the young generation about the ill effects of tobacco to human body well-being.
"While most of the LGUs in Western Visayas has anti-smoking ordinances, some LGUs do not fully implement it," Dr. Solas said as he urged local government executives to help fully implement the anti-smoke ordinances to attain smoke-free environment.
The World Health Organization s said that 100% smoke-free environments are the only proven way to adequately protect the health of all people from the devastating effects of second-hand tobacco smoke.
According to a medical study, tobacco smoking showed to be strongly linked to heart and lung diseases.
Tobacco contains nicotine, as well as tar. Both substances get deposited in the bronchi and the lungs. The other chemicals found in tobacco are: acetone, amonia, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen cyanide, methane and benzopyrene. These chemicals are the major factors responsible for smoking related diseases like coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis, stroke, emphysema, acute bronchitis and cancers of the nose, pharynx, larynx and lungs.
Second-hand smoke is a smoke exhaled by a smoker and inhaled by other people. Non-smokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke are more at risk because the particles in the exhaled smoke are smaller. They reach deeper into the lungs of the passive smokers.
The non-smoker regularly exposed to second-hand smoke, is prone to specific health risks which include: increased risks of heart disease, lung cancer, increase frequency of respiratory infections and asthmatic bronchitis in infants and children, and chronic irritation of the eyes, nose and throat especially among children. (PIA/T.Villavert)