COTABATO CITY (PIA) — The Bangsamoro government has now focused its anti-smoking campaign initiatives on the youth due to the widespread number of youth smokers.
Over a hundred students from Notre Dame University recently attended a forum that the Ministry of Health (MOH-BARMM) held in this city to launch the campaign.
The event aimed to inform the youth about the negative effects of smoking and vaping, as well as promote a smoke-free environment among students.
MOH Minister Kadil “Jojo” Sinolinding Jr. reiterated the harmful effects of smoking, not only on one’s own health but also on others tagged as secondhand smokers.
“Smoking is dangerous to your health and to the health of your loved ones. If you truly care about your health and your loved ones, then stop. For our young generation, let them realize [we] teach them the ill effects of smoking so that they will not start,” he stressed.
Sinolinding Jr. has also called on the stores not to sell cigarettes to those who are younger than 18 years old and to encourage the young generation to avoid smoking and focus on a healthy lifestyle.
“Sa lahat ng ating mga kababayan, lalong-lalo na sa Bangsamoro, magtulungan po tayo na pangalagaan ang ating kabataan, ang ating mga mag-aaral, ang ating mga anak, at ang ating mga mahal sa buhay,” he said.
(To our countrymen, especially in the Bangsamoro, let’s work together to take care of our youth, our students, our children, and our loved ones.)
Dr. Adlyn Bea Bernaldez of the Cotabato Regional Medical Center’s Department of Family and Community Medicine also discussed during the forum several topics on the harmful effects of smoking and vaping.
She shared findings from the 2019 Global Youth Tobacco Survey, which revealed that 1 in 7 Filipino students aged 13–15 use e-cigarettes, indicating that many youths start vaping at a very young age.
“Vapes still contain nicotine and other harmful chemicals,” she pointed out.
Bernaldez noted that youth are the target audience for e-cigarettes, which are addictive.
Meanwhile, the MOH-BARMM has signed a memorandum that prohibits all ministry employees and staff from smoking on its premises. Hospitals and other facilities under the MOH-BARMM’s supervision are also included in the directive. (LTB – PIA Cotabato City)
