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The Tobacco Control Office (TCO) of the Department of Health (DH) called on members of the public to support World No Tobacco Day 2012 tomorrow (May 31) to help create a smoke-free environment in Hong Kong.
A DH spokesman took the opportunity to urge smokers to quit smoking so as to enjoy a healthier lifestyle and protect others from the hazards of second-hand smoke. The public may seek smoking cessation services through the DH's Integrated Smoking Cessation hotline at 1833 183.
As of May 27, a total of 5 401 calls had been received by the department's smoking cessation hotline this year. From January to April, over 70 per cent of the smokers who called the DH's smoking cessation hotline indicated that they were quitting either for their own or their families' health while 13.5 per cent were quitting because of financial reasons.
The DH will further enhance smoking cessation services through collaboration with the Hospital Authority and community partners including the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, Pok Oi Hospital and the University of Hong Kong. The DH also launched a free smartphone application for smoking cessation last August. This quit-smoking tool is characterised by a number of interactive features such as information sharing with friends through email and Facebook, proactive tailor-made quitting tips and encouraging messages from over 40 local celebrities. As of May 27, there had been over 13 000 downloads of the Chinese and English versions.
After the TCO was designated by the World Health Organization as the Collaborating Centre for Smoking Cessation and Treatment of Tobacco Dependence in April this year, the office has developed a new e-learning programme to enhance the knowledge of health-care professionals in delivering smoking cessation services. Health-care professionals and members of the public are welcome to visit the TCO's webpage on World No Tobacco Day 2012 for more information at www.tco.gov.hk/english/whatsnew/wntd_2012.html.
Ends/Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Issued at HKT 11:06
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