Tobacco.org

Increasing Awareness On World Oral Health Day 

In Conjunction with the World Oral Health Day today, the Jerudong Park Medical Centre (JPMC) would like to send out these messages to the public: "For Healthy Gums and a Beautiful Smile - Stay Away from Tobacco" and "Quit Smoking!"

Smoking can lead to tooth loss and stains, gum diseases and, in more severe cases, mouth cancer. One of the effects - staining on the teeth - is due to the nicotine and tar content, as well as an increase in the stress physical level.

It is able to make a person's teeth yellow in a short period of time, and heavy smokers often complain that their teeth are almost brown after years of smoking. The purpose of this day is to increase awareness on oral health, as well as the impact of oral diseases on the general health and well-being.

The World Dental Federation (FDI), a voice of the dental profession, last year announced that the first World Oral Health Day would be celebrated every Sept 12.

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• National Tobacco Control Panel To Create Smoke-Free Society 

Brunei has set up a National Committee on Tobacco Control to discuss plans and strategies to reduce the prevalence of smoking in the country and create a smoke-free generation in the long-term.

The committee, which held its first meeting yesterday, was formed to examine and provide direction, advice and guidance on the National Tobacco Control Programme, in line with the policies suggested by the World Health Organisation, including monitoring use of tobacco products and preventive policies, protecting nonsmokers from tobacco smoke, providing warnings on the dangers of tobacco consumption and enforcing warnings on advertising and promotion of tobacco products.

It is also tasked with the responsibility of implementing the 2005 Tobacco Order and the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, in addition to increasing coordination with various sectors involved in the implementation of the National Tobacco Control Programme.

The committee will also ensure and enforce the implementation of the programme aimed at preventing and controlling the use of tobacco and reduce smoking rate, by preventing initial usage of tobacco, particularly among youths and women while also motivating the public to stop their usage of tobacco products.

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Smoking-Related Deaths Have Impact On Nation's Economy  

Smoking related deaths are a loss not only to the victim's family, but also the country, the Deputy Minister of Health said yesterday.

"From the workforce aspect, these deaths are really a loss to the country as half of them occur among those at the age where they are still productive in contributing to the economy of the country," said Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Paduka Hj Hazair Hj Abdullah.

During the first meeting of the National Committee on Tobacco Control at the Ministry of Health, he said that smoking-related diseases such as heart attacks, cancer, stroke, respiratory diseases and asthma are the main cause of deaths in the Sultanate.

A survey carried out in 2001 showed that there were about 40,000 smokers in Brunei, 80 per cent of which were aged between 20-34 while 17.5 per cent was made up of those between 15 to 20-year-olds.

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Smokers Beware - It's Going To Be Harder 

The National Committee for the Control of Tobacco convened for the first time yesterday to assess the progress of its efforts to achieve the ultimate goal of a completely smoke-free environment.

The committee, chaired by Deputy Minister of Health Pehin Dato Paduka Hj Hazair Hj Abdullah, consists of prominent members from both the government and private sector, including deputy ministers and permanent secretaries from seven different ministries, as well as representatives from various non-government organisations.

In his opening remarks, the Deputy Minister of Health enumerated the committee's objectives, one of which is to produce a generation that not only doesn't smoke, but also detests smokers.

In 2008, the government spent $20.7 million treating chronic illnesses, revealed the deputy minister, describing it as a "burden to the government". . . .

we need to come up with comprehensive short-term and long-term strategies to ensure the effectiveness of tobacco control... including the proper enforcement of the 2005 Tobacco Act," he declared.

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MoH Further Step Up Anti-Smoking Drive 

The Ministry of Health (MoH) is looking to strengthen its anti-smoking campaigns along with further enforcement of smoking laws in the hopes of one day creating a non-smoking generation in the Sultanate.

Minister of Health Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Suyoi Hj Osman said that apart from enforcing rules of smoking in nonsmoking areas, the ministry has also passed laws prohibiting the sales of cigarettes to those under the age of 18 as well as ensuring that cigarettes can only be imported and sold by licensed individuals.

"We also have been very active on the roadshow and some of our tasks have been taken over by the school counsellors themselves. We are asking the schools to cooperate with us to teach their students on the harms of smoking," said the minister after his tour of the "Show Truth. Picture Warning Saves Lives" smoking exhibition yesterday at the Ministry of Health.

"A lot of schools are now adapting this action and the (roadshow) exhibitions will help to pass on the message that smoking is harmful to our health and we are getting very good responses," he said.

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Huffing & Puffing Over Absence Of 'Smoking Zones'  

She and her friends were sitting in a cafe in Brunei and she was enjoying it all except, of course, for the forced interruption for a cigarette that brought about the need for a dash into the night. . . .

But she had enjoyed her stay in Brunei very much. After the hectic life she lived in Singapore, Brunei was a paradise of peace and tranquility.

She felt so much at home here. No doubt, there were minor irritations, like, for example, this one.

"Where's the yellow box?" she had asked when she stepped into a cafe a week ago when she first arrived in Brunei.

"What yellow box?" her friends had responded looking puzzled.

"The smoking zone in a cafe," she explained.

And she went on noting the blank look on her Brunei friends: "In Singapore about 20 per cent of the total seating space can be designated as a smoking zone in cafe. And that is marked by a clear yellow line. Within that box smoking is allowed. It is very popular with outdoor cafes. It seems to work out alright so far."

She looked at her friends in disbelief that they were unaware of this. Surely there should be a smoking area. That was only reasonable.

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Tobacco Labelling Comes Into Force  

The Ministry of Health informed yesterday that the Tobacco Regulation (Labelling) 2007 has come into force from Dec 1, 2008, which requires all cigarette and tobacco product packets sold in the country to have pictorial warning labels.

The prohibition notice of selling the products to those aged 18 years and below and the level of tar and nicotine contents must also be printed on the packets.

As a member of Framework Convention for Tobacco Control of the World Health Organisation (FCTC, WHO), Brunei is required to ensure that all tobacco producers print big and clear health warning labels including pictures.

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Tobacco Order 2007 comes into force  

The Ministry of Health announces that rules and regulations under the Tobacco Order 2007 comes into full force on 1st December 2008 whereby all packets of cigarettes and tobacco products sold in Brunei Darussalam must come with warning labels and pictures. A notice, prohibiting sales of tobacco products to anybody aged 18 and under, and stating tar and nicotine content must be printed on packets.

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Two Men Caught Smoking 

Two men were detained for breaching the law in accordance with the Act of Majlis Agama Islam and Syariah Courts.

A foreigner, Nuril Abdul Rahman, was caught smoking at a stall of a commercial building in the capital.

Upon inspection, he admitted to the offence and was fined $300.

Meanwhile, in the Temburong District, a 25-yearold local man was found smoking in public.

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Snuff out smoking habit during Ramadhan 

To a fraction of the community in Brunei Darussalam - smokers in particular - fasting from dawn to dusk also involves abstaining from smoking. This daily obligation is deemed by potential quitters as a way to cease their costly habit or addiction once and for all. AFP

Ramadhan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is the most anticipated every year as Muslims throughout the world look forward to intensify their religious deeds, and rake in the manifolds of benefits that one could gain during the month.

However, to a fraction of the community in Brunei Darussalam - smokers in particular - fasting from dawn to dusk also involves abstaining from smoking. This daily obligation is deemed by potential quitters as a way to cease their costly habit or addiction once and for all.

A member of the public told the Bulletin how he managed to finally quit smoking during Ramadhan last year.

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• Will Fasting Help Cut Down Or Kick Smoking Habit?  

Ramadhan serves as the most appropriate opportunity for Muslims to practice self-control in several aspects of life, and some members of the public had opted to take it a step further and quit from certain bad habits.

"I've been meaning to stop smoking for a long time, but with the Tobacco Order in force, it's a good time as any other to slowly start quitting," said a 27-year-old man, who has been smoking for almost nine years.

He added that he was not going to quit the bad habit, however the month gave him the opportunity to cut down on smoking while observing the month of Ramadhan. . . .

Imams in their Friday sermons on February 15 called on Bruneians to be proactive and not wait for something to happen before finally realising and seeing the error of their ways.

The imams pointed out that smoking is comparable to suicide as the habit does not kill a person immediately, but the poisons in cigarettes cause gradual decay and can ultimately cause death.

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War Against Smoking Begins 

Various authorities are joining forces to curb the negative effects of tobbacco use in Brunei, in ensuring the effective enforcement of the Tobacco Order.

A retail shop cashier in Kpg Mata-Mata, Gadong told The Brunei Times that they do not sell cigarettes to just anyone anymore.

"I encountered a situation whereby a boy wanted to purchase cigarettes claiming that it was for his father. I declined to sell it to him and requested that his guardian come down and purchase it himself," she said. . . .

To support people who wish to be free from smoking, the Ministry of Health opened the Stop Smoking Clinic Services in June 2006 at Anggerek Desa in Berakas and the Seria Health Clinic.

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B@KTIF Walkathon To Expose The Dangers Of Smoking  

The third phase of the B@KTIF competition continued yesterday with Sinar Mentari Junior team showcasing their one-day project with a theme of `Jauhkan Diri Dari Menjadi Hamba Rokok' or distance oneself from becoming a cigarette slave held at the Youth Development Center, Muara-Tutong Highway.

Present as the guest of honour during the launching ceremony was Awang Haji Metassim bin Haji Jibah, the Youth and Sports Department Director, Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sports.

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Civil servants told to quit smoking 

Public servants were urged to quit smoking and help reduce the smoking habit during the Tobacco Order 2005 course held yesterday at the Banquet Hall of the Legislative Council building.

The Ministry of Health has organised promotions, roadshows, briefings and dialogue sessions many times on the Tobacco Order 2005 with the aim of reducing the smoking habit among the people and citizens of the country, said Dato Paduka Haji Mustappa bin Hj Sirat, Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office.

He urged all permanent secretaries, deputy permanent secretaries, and head of departments to support the aspiration of the Ministry of Health to stop the habit of smoking among the civil servant community in Brunei Darussalam.

This includes tightening the prohibition of smoking in government premises and buildings like sport and recreational complex, canteen, schools, hospitals and others under the management of each ministry and department.

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Physical, spiritual hazards of smoking 

Most Muslims are aware and try to avoid committing the major sins in Islam - murder, suicide, adultery, alcohol, gambling and so on. Muslims are forbidden to harm themselves or others. Yet millions of Muslims all over the world are doing just that - harming - even killing themselves and their families by smoking cigarettes. Islamic scholars have historically had mixed views on the subject and in some Islamic countries, the actions of these Muslims have not been unanimously forbidden or even discouraged.

However, in Brunei Darussalam, the State Mufti has already come up with a fatwa that pronounces tobacco use as haram (forbidden) to believers. Smoking is considered haram because those who smoke are considered to be killing themselves. The tobacco that they consume contains poisonous substance. Over three million people worldwide die from smoking-related causes each year.

The Ministry of Health has also announced in their campaign that there are hundreds of poisonous and toxic ingredients found in the cigarette itself that the smoker inhales straight into the lungs. There are over 4,000 chemicals in cigarette smoke, over 40 of which are known to cause cancer.

In an authentic hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Whom so ever drinks poison, thereby killing himself, will sip this poison forever and ever in the fire of Jahannum (Hell)."

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