HPB LAUDED FOR TOBACCO CONTROL EFFORTS
HPB’s Blue Ribbon initiative receives stamp of approval from World Health Organization for garnering support for a smoke-free environment
Singapore, 28 December 2012: Singapore’s tobacco control efforts have been recognised by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the best practices for mobilising support for a 100% smoke-free environment. The recognition was accorded by the WHO Western Pacific Region Healthy City Recognition 2012.
2. The WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific created the Blue Ribbon campaign to recognise and acknowledge people and organisations working to implement the WHO Framework Convention provisions on smoke-free environments. The campaign seeks to communicate the importance of social solidarity for smoke-free environments.
3. With HPB’s launch of a local blue ribbon initiative in March this year, Singapore was the first country regionally to adopt this initiative on a nationwide scale. Thus far, 13 markets and food centres, seven hotels, three parks and three grassroots communities have been recognised for their commitment to create smoke-free environments. All of whom are recognised under the blue ribbon initiative have done so on a voluntary basis. This is because they believe in the importance of tobacco control and the prevention of harmful second-hand or third-hand smoke. They are also convinced that being smokefree will have little impact on their business. HPB will continue to work with more businesses and organisations to encourage them to support the smoke-free movement.
4. In addition, HPB’s Health Ambassadors, who play an important role in the community to create a healthy living social movement, have been working the ground at various neighbourhoods to promote a smoke-free lifestyle as well as voluntary nosmoking zones at void decks and common corridors. These ambassadors go door to door to distribute blue ribbons and quit kits, to support the blue ribbon smoke-free movement as well as help smokers quit. Health Ambassadors disseminate HPB’s health messages to the community, empower the community to be health literate, provide effective peer support to introduce and sustain behaviour change in individuals as well as catalyse the recruitment of more Health Ambassadors in the community.
5. Mr Ang Hak Seng, Chief Executive Officer, HPB, said, “Being recognised by the World Health Organization for our efforts in mobilising support for a 100% smoke-free environment shows we are heading in the right direction. The WHO award by no means stagnates our tobacco control efforts. In fact we have an uphill task ahead of us. While Singapore’s national smoking prevalence continues to be one of the lowest in the world at about 14 per cent, the percentage of young adult smokers below 30 years old has increased in recent years, from about 12 per cent in 2004 to 16 per cent in 2010. While our multi-prong tobacco control approach encompasses legislation, this award recognises our efforts to move beyond that, to involve and mobilise the community through our blue ribbon initiative and I Quit campaign. We have now progressed from market and food centres to include hotels, parks and communities in the blue ribbon initiative. Our I Quit campaign will continue to offer 150 touch points that provide a smoker with convenient and accessible programmes wherever he is, at home or at work. As more people, communities and places make the choice to join our blue ribbon movement, we move closer to making a smoke-free lifestyle the acceptable social norm."
6. The World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region Healthy City Recognition 2012 aims to encourage cities to continue to innovate and demonstrate effective and efficient ways of promoting and protecting the health of urban populations. The WHO and the Alliance for Healthy Cities recognise and award outstanding work in 3 defined areas such as ‘mobilising support for 100% smoke-free environment’. HPB has been recognised for its efforts to protect the public against second hand smoke and garner support to create a 100% smoke-free environment.
Issued by Health Promotion Board
Annex 1 Blue Ribbon Initiative
Annex 2 I Quit Campaign
Annex 3 National Tobacco Control Programme