–In connection with World Anti-Tobacco Day, on Tuesday 31 May, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), held an awareness-raising activity on the platform of the commissariat in Nickerie.
Smoking is one of the major risk factors of the well-known non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, cancers and chronic diseases of the respiratory tract and lungs, which account for more than 60% of deaths in Suriname. Since the NCD and Mental Health teams of the Ministry and PAHO were present in Nickerie for a three-day Suicide Prevention training, the opportunity was taken to highlight this day in Nickerie.
This year’s theme was “Tobacco: a threat to our environment”. During the activity, visitors were provided with information about the adverse effects of tobacco use on our health through demonstrations, posters and leaflets. Also a video exhibition about the environmental effects of tobacco cultivation, production, distribution, consumption and waste after consumption (just think of the cigarette butts). The visit was concluded with a quiz where people could win a nice present. The organizations look back on a successful activity as they have been well attended, especially by young people.
Tobacco kills more than 8 million people every year and destroys our environment, further harming human health. The Tobacco Act of Suriname, 20 February 2013, containing rules to restrict the use of tobacco and tobacco products, aims to protect current and future generations in Suriname against the harmful health effects of the use of tobacco and tobacco products and exposure to tobacco smoke. The Ministry of Health is currently in the process of amending the current law, which will also include rules to protect our environment from tobacco.
