Pupils join battle to stop smoking at health sites
CWM University Health Board has teamed up with two schools in a bid to stop people smoking on their sites.
Year 7 students from Cyfarthfa High School and Ysgol Gyfun Garth Olwg have produced anti-smoking campaign posters to be displayed at hospitals, clinics, health centres and GP practices as well as on Cwm Taf TV public screens.
In June 2012 the health board implemented a smoke-free environment policy on all their premises to protect employees, patients, relatives and visitors from inhaling second-hand smoke. Despite this policy, smoking is still an issue at these sites.
Dr Chris Jones, the chairman of the health board, said he was “disappointed” that people continue to smoke in these areas.
In collaboration with the health board students from the two schools were tasked with producing posters depicting their views of the drawbacks of smoking and the benefits of quitting.
The students said that the posters “show how bad it is to smoke and what happens to you if you do”.
Heather Parnell, the health board’s artist-inresidence, said it was “great that the competition motivated [the students] to research the dangers of smoking in much more depth.”
Smoking is still the largest single cause of avoidable ill health and early death in Wales.
Claire Fry, head of Art and Design at Cyfarthfa High School said she was “amazed” by the pupils’ anti-smoking opinions.
She said: “The slogans on the posters are the pupils’ own and I hope give out a very clear message to whoever looks at them.”
Amanda Jones, head of Art at Ysgol Gyfun Garth Olwg said: “It was an exciting time for us as an art department to work on a collaboration project with the health board.
“We have never done so, and it was a new opportunity that we were glad to participate in.
“The Year 7 pupils had some excellent ideas, they really had to think about their audience while letting their creativity show through in their ideas.”
Cwm Taf University Health Board offer Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) for anyone wanting to quit smoking. You can also visit www.stopsmokingwales.com for help and advice on quitting.