West
9 June 2006
Mafikeng - Health professional and community members will on Sunday, 11 June
2006, join the Health Minister Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang in promoting the
Healthy Lifestyle Campaign at Itsoseng Stadium in the Central District from
9h00 in the morning.
The event forms part of our on-going programme of raising awareness around
the dangers of tobacco usage as echoed by the Department during the World No
Tobacco Day earlier this month. The healthy lifestyle campaign which is the
backbone and pillar of our health promotion system has five focus areas namely:
anti-tobacco consumption, physical activity, healthy nutrition, safe sex and
safe alcohol usage.
Promotion of the no use of tobacco products is therefore part of the healthy
lifestyle campaign. We are worried by the increasing cases of tobacco usage
especially by our teenage and young girls. It is now fashionable and part of
the recent culture to see young ladies and generally women proudly smoking in
public places. This is a dangerous culture and practice. We call upon our youth
in particular, as we celebrate the Youth Month to dedicate their efforts in
raising awareness against tobacco usage. The central message should be, âitâs
not cool to smoke,â emphasised North West Health MEC Nomonde Rasmeni speaking
on the eve of the campaign.
The focus of the day will be on raising community awareness around the key
issues including diabetes, hypertension, oral and body mass index screening as
well as exhibitions on healthy lifestyles. Before the start of these
activities, the Minister and the MEC will lead the entire participants in a fun
run/walk aimed at running or walking for good health.
Tobacco is the second major cause of death in the world. It is currently
responsible for the death of one in ten adultsâ worldwide (about five million
deaths each year). If current smoking patterns continue, it will cause some 10
million deaths each year by 2020. Half the people that smoke today that are
about 650 million people will eventually be killed by tobacco.
Recent statistics have showed that in South Africa alone, tobacco kills more
than 25 000 annually. Many more get sick and this includes children who suffer
from second hand smoke. When a cigarette is lit about 85 percent of smoke is
released into the atmosphere as side stream smoke which has more poisons than
smoke inhaled by the smoker. Smoke from cigarettes, cigars and pipes can cause
serious health problems not only for smokers revealed Rasmeni.
Tobacco is the cause of major illnesses among the adult population, its
usage leads to diseases such as heart attacks, strokes, blood vessel diseases,
tooth decay, osteoporosis, deformed sperm and cancer.
With this campaign we are hoping to reach as many young people and older
generation as possible. We will be working closely with the Department of
Education in promoting these five pillars of our healthy lifestyle campaign,
concluded Rasmeni.
Members of the media are hereby invited to join the Minister when she leads
this campaign in the province.
Issued by:
Barba Gaoganediwe
Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: (018) 387 5830
Fax: (018) 387 5830
E-mail: kgaoganediwe@nwpg.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Health, North West Provincial Government
9 June 2006
Source: North West Provincial Government (http://www.nwhealth.gov.za/)
