the World No Tobacco Day event in Xhariep District, Trompsburg
31 May 2007
Programme Director
Executive Mayor
Councillors
Hospital Board Members
Top Management
Setjhaba ka kakaretso
World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared 31 May a World No Tobacco Day
and every year WHO provides a theme to guide the commemoration of this day. The
theme for 2007 is "Create and enjoy smoke-free environments". Countries and
governments are therefore encouraged to work towards strict regulations of
tobacco products.
Commemoration of World No Tobacco Day is aimed at:
* spreading information on the dangers of tobacco and its related
substances
* raising awareness about the existence of the wide variety of deadly tobacco
products and the importance of a smoke free environment.
Ho tsuba ho kotsi ho bao ba tsubang e sita le ba sa tsubeng empa ba phela le
bona. Ho kotsi sethong se seng le se seng sa mmele, ho baka mahloko a fapaneng
mme hona ho fokodisa bophelo ba motho ka kakaretso.
Smokers are at far high risk of strokes, heart attacks and other
cardio-vascular diseases, cancers of the lungs, mouth, larynx, bladder,
pancreas, kidney and stomach, emphysema, bronchitis and tuberculosis. These
diseases cause serious illnesses, disability and premature death and it is on
these bases that we need to be aware of the dangers of tobacco and its related
substances.
Mahloko a bakwang ke ho tsuba ha a bolaye feela empa a ka o bakela mathata
bophelo bohle ba hao. Mahloko ana a ka sitisa phallo ya madi mmeleng wa motho
haholo-holo maotong, mme sena se ka baka hore motho a kgaolwe maoto. Mathata a
matshwafo ka baka la ho tsuba a ka etsa hore motho a hlolehe ho hema ka nepo
bophelo bohle ba hae.
Smokers usually start to develop problems in their 30s and 40s but even 18
years old smokers are not as fit as their non-smoking friends. Second-hand
smoke, also known as environmental tobacco smoke, is a complex mixture of
gasses and particles that includes smoke from the burning cigarettes, cigar, or
pipe tip (sidestream smoke) and exhaled mainstream smoke.
Health effects of second-hand smoke exposure
* Second-hand smoke exposure causes heart disease and lung cancer in
non-smoking adults.
* Non-smokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke at home or at work increase
their heart disease risk by 25 to 30% and their lung cancer risk by 20 to 30
%.
* Breathing second-hand smoke has immediate harmful effects on the
cardiovascular system that can increase the risk of heart attack. People who
already have heart disease are at high risk.
* In children second-hand smoke exposure causes respiratory symptoms and slows
their lung growth, it can also lead to sudden infant death syndromes, acute
respiratory infections, ear problems and more frequent and severe asthma
attacks.
* There is no risk-free level of second-hand smoke exposure. Even brief
exposure can be dangerous.
Molaetsa ho rona kaofela
* Ho tsuba ha ho ya lokela bophelo bo bohle.
* Ho batjha le batho ba sa tsubeng dulang le sa tsube hobane ke boitshwaro bo
lokileng bakeng sa bophelo bo botle
Ho ba tsubang
It is never too late to quit smoking, be informed that you take an immediate
decision to quit smoking you increase your life expectancy by 10 to 15 years.
Quit smoking and have control over yourself.
Finally, may I take this opportunity to invite all smokers to quit smoking,
non-smokers not to start and let us support those who are willing to quit. Make
a commitment by signing a pledge to support Anti Smoking Campaign.
Qetellong ke rata ho nka monyetla ona ho kgothaletsa bohle ba tsubang ho
tlohela ho tsuba, mme ba so kang ba qala ho tsuba tlohelang. Nkang monyetla ona
hore le tshehetse bao ba ikemiseditseng ho tlohela ho tsuba.
Issued by: Department of Health, Free State Provincial Government
31 May 2007
