A1+
`STOP SMOKING AND YOU WILL WIN’
[03:49 pm] 30 May, 2006
The number of smokers in Armenia has `terribly’ increased. `A1+’ was
informed about it from the anti smoking program centre of the RA
Ministry of Health. Currently 90% of men smoke, as for Armenian women
they tend `to put away their gauze,’ that’s to say they are not
inclined to conceal the fact of smoking any longer.
By the way, the number of smoking women is about 4 – 5% in the whole
territory of the country. Their number may seem insignificant but if
we take into consideration the fact that Armenian women of many
regions don’t smoke at all their number is rather significant in
Yerevan. We can counter the same problem among children. The number of
smokers is comparatively larger among children of 13 – 16.
Though a law combating smoking was adopted in Armenia the society is
not ready yet to obey it. For instance, if it is forbidden to smoke
when in a public, and there are special rooms for smokers in many
establishments and buildings, the atmosphere of a café gives a
perfect ground for smoking, claim the specialists. But smoking in
cafes is not a breach of a law as the law prescribes such cases when
smokers `may’ make use of separate special places intended for
smokers. By the way, if the USA and Great Britain initiated the
smoking combat in 60 – 70s and only in 90s they registered positive
result; curtail of deaths caused by smoking, Armenia has much to do on
this score.
Armenia became a member of an international program titled `Stop
smoking and you will win’ in 2004. The program has about 100 member
countries. The essence of the program is that smoking people becoming
engaged in the program are liable to quit smoking for a month. The
contest is held with two years interval, and the winners are awarded
with 10 thousand and 2 500 USD. Many of the program participants
cannot withstand the temptation of smoking and give in. Those who
overcome the desire to smoke systematically undergo medical
examination in laboratories in order to prove the fact that they
finally stopped smoking. On May 31, after the medical examination, on
the international day `One day without smoking’ a competition is held
in all 100 member countries between the participants of the last phase
for the first and second places. Their names are later sent to the
capital of Finland, Helsinki, where the winners finally are made
public.
By the way, Armenia participates in the program for the second
time. Out of 450 participants of the program in 2004 only 35 stopped
smoking so far. This year 125 people from 588 will participate in the
finals.