Visual warnings on cig packs deter smokers: DOH

THE graphic health warnings on cigarette packs helped reduce smokers, an official of the Department of Health 11 (DOH 11) said.

Rosemarie Basañez, Tobacco Control Program Manager of DOH 11, told reporters yesterday that DOH received a report that after the implementation of graphic health warnings, the number of smokers reduced by around a million.

"After the implementation of graphic health warnings, the DOH was able to receive a report regarding the reduced smokers in the country from 17.3 million down to 16.3 million. It really helped in the advocacy on the ill effects of smoking and the people around them," Basañez said.

Basañez said cigarettes contain some 7,000 poisonous chemicals.

She said DOH also has clinics for smoking cessation where smokers can access counseling.

These clinics also give education to members of the family or relatives of smokers on how to convince their relatives to stop smoking.

She said young people comprise the huge number of smokers.

"With the implementation of graphic health warning, we are hoping that we can really reduce smokers in the country since President Rodrigo Duterte wants the country to be smoke-free," she said.

She added that aside from graphic health warnings, the increased price of cigarettes also discouraged some smokers to buy cigarettes.

Noli Gimeno, a smoker who ceased smoking for two years, said during the culmination activity for the 16th Anti-smoking campaign of the city yesterday, said that quitting smoking had been tough for him but he was inspired by people who were there beside him.

"I really decided to stop smoking because I am ashamed of myself,” he said, adding that while he used to be a counselor

for anti-smoking, he would sneak around to smoke. He started smoking on sixth grade.

On August 12, 2016, Gimeno decided to stop smoking.

"I have decided to follow healthy lifestyle, wherein I can save money," he said.

He said the first two weeks after he quit smoking was tough.

"The withdrawal symptoms is really hard, you will experience massive sweating, you'll be irritable," he said.

Gimeno said he ate a lot of fruits instead of smoking.

Yesterday, Co-chair of the Anti-Smoking Task Force Dr. Ashley Lopez, together with Assistant Regional Director of DOH Davao, Dr. Anabelle Yumang, and Davao City Assistant City Administrator lawyer Lawrence Bantiding handed out citations to police officers and the police stations, including agencies with 100 percent nosmoking areas.