World No Tobacco Day Marked in Liuzhou

‘World No Tobacco Day’ was celebrated in Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, with the local department of health presenting a series of promotional events in Wuxing pedestrian street. This year marked the 27th ‘World No Tobacco Day’, themed on “raising taxes on tobacco and protecting the next generation”.

According to the local department of health, anti-smoking plays an important role in the construction of the city and serves as one of the key requirements of the standards of city hygiene.

Currently, a lot of achievements have been made by banning smoking in public places such as shopping malls, schools, hospitals and waiting rooms and a smoke-free environment has been preliminarily established.

Liuzhou has about 250,000 smokers, according to a recent survey, among whom the percentage of young smokers keeps on rising. Smokers range in age from 18 to 60 and male smokers account for 80 percent of the total.

However, many smokers tend to give up smoking after 40 years old, especially when they are suffering from high blood pressure, diabetes or other chronic diseases.

The local non-smoking regulation, issued in 2009, together with the local health bureau’s plan on antismoking, clarified the non-smoking disciplines in public places such as medical institutions, schools and cinemas.

Over the past few years, the local department of health has advocated public tobacco controls and organized civic education activities. Non-smoking training classes and forums, as well as various tobacco control activities are held each year.

About 1,000 people from local communities have been trained since last year, to know more about the harms of smoking and acquire the techniques for persuading others to quit smoking.

Also, 10,000 non-smoking signs have been put up in Liuzhou since last year saying “You have entered a smoke-free zone. No smoking. Thank you for your cooperation.”

Earlier this year, the local health department called on its member enterprises to establish smoke-free institutions, neighborhoods, and communities. The city has successfully constructed smoke-free hospitals, schools and medical organizations.