'Ex-smokers are unstoppable campaign' launched

The 'Ex-smokers are unstoppable' campaign was launched this morning in Zebbug by the EU Health Commissioner John Dalli. The aim of this initiative is to help children understand the harmful causes of smoking. Addressing schoolchildren in a playground in Zebbug, Dalli said "I am particularly pleased that more than 165,000 smokers are already actively using iCoach, our interactive smoking cessation tool. iCoach offers support with practical tips and advice as you move through the stages of smoking cessation. More articles read on this blog.

This represents the first time an EU campaign has offered practical help." The EU Health Commissioner added that health awareness starts with education. He noted that despite all the information available, people still hold on to the habit. "I gave up smoking myself some years ago and I know how difficult it can be. I believe that with this new campaign and supporting tool, we will genuinely be able to make a difference to people's lives and help them become 'unstoppable', " Dalli said. Commissioner Dalli also highlighted the success rate of the campaign in Malta, where over 20,000 people have engaged on the campaign's social media tool, while over 1,500 smokers have registered with iCoach, making Maltese take-up rather high above the EU27 average.

 The iCoach is a core part of the campaign, launched in June 2011 across all EU member states, aiming to motivate smokers to stop. Recently, Malta introduced a smoking ban in local playing fields. This measure is being implemented through Malta's local councils with the aim to to ensure a better quality of life, where it comes to smoke-free public spaces. Dalli explained that tobacco is the single largest cause of avoidable death in the EU, accounting for around 650,000 premature deaths per year. "A further 13 million people in the EU suffer from serious diseases caused by smoking.

Even those individuals who do not smoke are affected by smoking and tobacco; second-hand smoke causes 79,000 deaths a year in the EU." The event was also addressed by the Zebbug mayor Alfred Grixti, President of the Southern Region Claudette Abela Baldacchino and the President of the Local Council Association, Michael Cohen. The Director of the Health Promotion Unit, responsible for the national quit line, Dr. Charmaine Gauci, stressed the importance of quitting smoking and also highlighted the various initiatives taken by the Department to support those who want to quit the habit.