Group snuffs out children’s tobacco use
South Eastern Michigan Indians, Inc. (SEMII) in Center Line promotes the “Take Down Tobacco National Day of Action” on Thursday, April 1 aimed at stopping tobacco use by young people.
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids hosts a virtual Roast of Big Tobacco. It takes place 7-8 p.m. on Thursday to show how young people are targeted by companies that make tobacco products. It is a variety show with a call to action, comedy, speakers, trivia and giveaways. To register for the event and get information, visit takedowntobacco.org.
American Indian Veterans of Michigan, Inc. is one of the event partners.
“SEMII has been involved in commercial tobacco education, prevention, and reduction since 2006,” Karen Tomalis said. She is a SEMII program manager who develops culturally relevant fliers and brochures, and information for social media. She collaborates with other organizations on tobacco prevention and education.
“American Indians have a very high rate of commercial tobacco use,” she said.
According to the Michigan Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance, 42.5 percent of American Indians use commercial tobacco, chew tobacco or use electronic cigarettes — or vape.
“Part of our education process is to ensure education on the use of traditional or ceremonial tobacco, which is not the same at all as the commercial tobacco industry. American Indians also have a very high rate of cardiovascular and pulmonary disease, which is primarily attributed to commercial tobacco use. We are very concerned about the use of vaping devices, marketed to, and used by American Indians and youth,” Tomalis said. “American Indian Veterans of Michigan has also long been a partner with SEMII on tobacco education and has worked primarily in the veteran sector. Many veterans were introduced to and became addicted to nicotine while serving in the military. This has been an important part of our mission to help other veterans with information and cessation.
“As American Indians, we believe we have a responsibility for the next seven generations and work with other veteran organizations across the state of Michigan, reminding them it is our job to ensure a healthier future for our coming generations and that commercial tobacco and vaping should not be a part of their future,” she said.
The campaign is based on the following statistics and facts:
• The tobacco industry spends $9.1 billion a year to market cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products in the U.S., and that 86.3 percent of middle and high school students report being exposed to pro-tobacco ads.
• Electronic cigarette companies market heavily on social media with youthoriented ads, hiring influencers and celebrities to promote their products, and host launch parties with product giveaways. Electronic cigarettes and cigars come in sweet and fruity flavors, like mango, banana and bubblegum.
Take Down Tobacco is the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids platform to help people speak out against the tobacco industry.
On April 1, the Take Down Tobacco and youth activists, educators, parents, health advocates and concerned citizens organize events that raise awareness of the problem of tobacco use in their community. They encourage youth to reject tobacco industry marketing and stay tobaccofree. The campaign also urges elected officials to take action to protect kids from tobacco.
For more resources on commercial tobacco cessation and youth tobacco prevention, contact Tomalis at 586-756-1350 or semii1975@yahoo.com. SEMII is located at 26641 Lawrence Street.
Veteran COVID vaccine available March 27
The Detroit Veterans Affairs Health Care System hosts a COVID-19 vaccine clinic 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 27 at the Joe Louis American Legion Post 375 located at 19486 Sherwood Street, Detroit. Vaccinations will be given as supplies last.
The vaccine clinic is open to veterans enrolled with VA services. Detroit VA registration staff will register eligible veterans who have yet to enroll for VA services. Non-enrolled veterans need to bring a copy of their DD-214 discharge paper, a photo ID and a copy of last year’s income. Veterans who are not enrolled or do not currently receive care at VA can visit va.gov/healthcare/eligibility.
Registered caregivers of enrolled veteran patients and even some spouses may also be eligible for vaccinations at the VA. For more information, see detroit.va.gov/services/covid-19-vaccines.asp or call 1-800-576-1000.
Militarytimes.com reported that cases of coronavirus among VA patients hit a five-month low last week. There were more than 4,000 active cases in 138 medical centers, a reduction of 78 percent since January. There were fewer than 100 active cases in all of the VA medical centers. The VA has had more than 237,000 COVID-19 patients in the past year.
Vaccines in honor of Vietnam Veterans Day
More than 1,700 Vietnam veterans received their COVID-19 inoculations recently in New York City, and were thanked for their service just ahead of National Vietnam War Veterans Day which is Monday, March 29.
Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Peter M. Aylward is the director of the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration — a national 50th anniversary celebration.
“Our hope is that COVID ends soon and our commemorative partners will again be able to host events, especially since the VA estimates that we are losing 557 Vietnam veterans each day,” Aylward said.
“We are deeply concerned about what the separation imposed by COVID means to our Vietnam veterans — separation from families, the loneliness, the anxiety, and depression. We want them to know just how much we appreciate them and their service to our nation,” he said.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund that oversees the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. conducts a virtual commemoration of National Vietnam War Veterans Day at 1 p.m. Monday. See the fund’s website at: vvmf.org/honor-vietnam-veterans or its Facebook page.