Top award for tackling tobacco
NHS Lanarkshire have received a national award for their work to tackle the harm caused by tobacco – despite the fact it “is still the biggest killer” in Lanarkshire.
The Tobacco-free Generation Awards are part of Scotland’s Charter for a Tobacco-free Generation, an initiative by health charity ASH Scotland.
However, every year around 3000 people across the county die because of a smoking-related illness.
That was the bleak message contained within NHS Lanarkshire’s annual report last year.
The Charter aims to help deliver the Scottish Government’s commitment to make Scotland tobacco-free, which is defined as less than five per cent of the population smoking, by 2034.
The Charter inspires organisations to take action to reduce the harm caused by smoking in their communities.
NHS Lanarkshire say they have created a strong tobacco strategy that involves the whole health board.
They have been promoting the tobacco-free message throughout Lanarkshire and have been successful in encouraging community organisations, schools and workplaces to pledge their own actions to help reach the 2034 tobacco-free target. Gabe Docherty, NHS Lanarkshire interim director of public health, said: “I’m delighted we have received this award and been recognised for our efforts to tackle the harm caused by tobacco and raise awareness of the impact of secondhand smoke on children and young people.
“As a health-promoting organisation, we have a duty of care to protect the health of people in Lanarkshire and promote positive health behaviours.
“This is why so much of our work focuses on the key Charter principles of encouraging others to support every child to be free from the harmful effects of tobacco, ensuring children can play, learn and socialise in places that are free from tobacco, have access to effective education and be offered support to help them become tobacco free.
“We’re also delighted that so many local organisations support us in the pursuit of a tobacco-free generation.”
Local supporters of the Charter include the community trusts of Hamilton and Motherwell and Hamilton football clubs.
Motherwell FC Community Trust is the most recent local organisation to pledge their support.
General manager Dawn Middleton said: “NHS Lanarkshire encouraged us to sign up to the Charter and we’re delighted to be part of this important message for young and old.
“This year, in partnership with the health board, we engaged over 5000 children in our smoking and secondhand smoke education programmes.”
ASH Scotland chief executive Sheila Duffy, who presented the award, added: “ASH Scotland launched the Charter to help raise awareness of and deliver the worthwhile vision for putting smoking out of fashion for the next generation. The response to the charter has been excellent.”
There was some good news in the health board’s latest report, for 2016, as fewer Lanarkshire children are taking up the habit.
The report said: “Smoking prevalence in young people is, thankfully, at an historic low and fewer Lanarkshire children are starting to smoke.”
For smokers who want to stop, help is available in the via the NHS Lanarkshire Stop Smoking Service at www.nhslanarkshire.org.uk.
We have a duty of care to protect the health of people in Lanarkshire and promote positive health behaviours