"Tobacco Breaks Hearts! Choose health, not tobacco"!

Press Release

World No Tobacco Day

By Project EMBRACE

Sandan District, Kampong Thom Province

May 29, 2018

 On May 29, 2018, members of ADRA Cambodia’s EMBRACE team celebrated World No Tobacco Day 2018 on the theme of "Tobacco Breaks Hearts! Choose health, not tobacco" in Tomring commune, Sandan district, Kampong Thom province. They highlighted the harmful effects of tobacco and the second hand smoke on children, newborn babies, and pregnant women, the key beneficiaries that EMBRACE project is targeting. The session was held in cooperation with the Provincial Health Department, Operational District and the local authorities in Sandan district with total of 450 participants (245 females) come from around Tomring commune Sandan district. Kampong Thom province.

Key Objectives:
   1. To improve knowledge of people in the community to aware the serious affected of Tobacco on health through cigarettes and second hand smoking and others picture tobacco usages.
   2. People will know the serious affected of tobacco usage for pregnancy women and children caused by tobacco.
   3. Encourage people (parents, caregivers) to give up tobacco usage to improve their health and people around.

We were able to broadcast live on air via our project Radio program that was live at 10am to 11 am from the Kampong Thom Radio FM105.3 MHz in which we open questions for participants to ask guest speakers and chat related to the event.

Mr. Ken Chamroeun, Senior Assistant Project Manager of the Sandan EMBRACE Project, said the program was designed to raise awareness among the community about the serious health effects of smoking or tobacco or tobacco products to understand the serious health effects of smoking or tobacco or tobacco products. Pregnant women or small children who inhale secondhand smoke. Encourage people to give up their habit of smoking or tobacco for themselves and others.

Mr. Chum Virak, Deputy Governor of Sandan, said this is the first time that authorities and development partners have promoted tobacco products related to health and the economy. He said that tobacco products contain 7,000 toxic chemicals that make the user more ill with more than 6 million deaths and injuries each year, reported by the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization. More than 15 million Cambodians have more than 2 million tobacco users (Data from the National Institute of Statistics, Ministry of Planning 2014). And Cambodia has lost 10,000 people every year (Ministry of Health report). He added that for the benefit of the community, we all live healthier, we stop using tobacco products, which means we promote the health of the welfare community and also support the government in developing the nation! He has directed all the participants to bring this knowledge to the local community and to start from each one of us.

Mr. Randy, Police Officer: He used to smoke 2-3 packets a day. Everywhere people say he smells even when he is not in smoking. He lost a lot of money and did not get anything that brought bad health, such as rest to work, coughing and sharpening. After he quit smoking even his friends asked him to smoke, he refused at all times. Now, his health returns to good health and there is no cough and sharpness.

Project EMBRACE (Enhancing Mother/Newborn/Child Health in Remote Areas through Health Care and Community Engagement), is being implemented by ADRA Cambodia.  It is primarily funded by Canada’s International Development – Global Affairs Canada department with support from ADRA Canada’s generous donors.