The Department of Mental Health and Substance Dependence in the Ministry of Health, Agriculture and Human Services joins the World Health Organization (WHO) and participating countries around the world in celebrating World No Tobacco Day, Sunday, May 31, 2015.
Every year since 1987, this day, May 31st. is set aside for this observance, the primary focus of which is to bring awareness to the fact that the use of tobacco and tobacco products has resulted in a world-wide health epidemic that is impacting most, if not all modern day societies.
The latest Report from WHO reveals the startling statistics that approximately 6 million preventable deaths occur around the world annually from smoking and the use of tobacco products and from exposure to second-hand smoke of tobacco products. The majority of these preventable deaths are caused by cancer of the lungs, throat and mouth, emphysema and other respiratory, diseases all attributable to the smoking and other uses of tobacco products.
Being cognizant of this, the Department of Mental Health and Substance Dependence, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Agriculture and Human Services has initiated a number of bold initiatives to ensure that the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands are properly protected from tobacco smoke, including the drafting of a national policy to affect 100% smoke-free environments in all public places throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands, and a comprehensive tobacco draft legislation that will provide for stringent guidelines for the sale, promotion, advertising and sponsorship of tobacco and tobacco products.
On World No Tobacco Day this year, Sunday, May 31, 2015, the Department of Mental Health and Substance Dependence will launch a three month public awareness campaign to educate the public about the dangers of second hand smoking. Also on this day, the Department along with the Ministry of Health, is asking the public to join with us in observing a SMOKE-FREE DAY. Everyone is being urged to abstain from all forms of smoking and other uses of tobacco products and breathe the wonderful fresh air of our beautiful by nature Turks & Caicos Islands.
Further, we are challenging wholesale and retail distributors of tobacco products to abstain from selling any tobacco products on Sunday, May 31st, World No Tobacco Day.
For those persons who are desirous of overcoming their smoking habit, feel free to contact any of the offices of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Dependence. In Grand Turk, the location is the Old Clinic, telephone number 338-3613, in Providenciales the location is Sam’s Building Downtown, telephone 338-4737, in South Caicos, the Old Disabled Center building, telephone 338-3601.
Remember this, if you can quit for a day, you can quit for life.
