http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/country/brunei.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://www.bt.com.bn/news-national/2012/01/11/brunei-mulls-plain-tobacco-packaging http://tobacco.org/news/331958.html BRUNEI is currently reviewing the pictorial health warnings in use, and is considering amending the size of the health warnings to be carried on tobacco product packagings, the deputy permanent secretary (Professional and Technical) at the Ministry of Health said in her key note address yesterday. Addressing the participants of the workshop on Plain Packaging of Tobacco Products, Dr Hjh Norlila Dato Paduka Hj Abdul Jalil said that tobacco control in Brunei has been identified as one of the top priorities in its strategic framework of action, the National Health Care plan (2000-2010). "Through further review of the Ministry of Health's vision and strategy to move 'Together Towards a Healthy Nation', a new strategic framework was also launched in 2010 which further identified tobacco control as pivotal in embracing a healthy lifestyle." Brunei Times Brunei Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.brudirect.com/index.php/2011062150660/Third-Stories/sultanate-steps-up-fight-against-tobacco.html http://tobacco.org/news/322194.html In addition to providing structured smoking cessation programmes at selected heath centres, the Ministry of Health is currently planning to start an inpatient smoking cessation programme at hospitals as well as establishing a 'quit line'. An online counselling service is also under consideration in order to further help smokers kick the addictive habit of smoking. The new measure was revealed by the Permanent Secretary of Health, Dato Paduka Awg Hj Abd Salam bin Hj Abd Momin, in his speech at the opening ceremony for the Consultative Workshop for the Development of the National Tobacco Control Action Plan held at the Rizqun International Hotel yesterday. Brunei Direct Brunei Wed, 22 Jun 2011 04:00:00 GMT http://www.brudirect.com/index.php/2011050546644/First-Stories/50-pc-of-children-below-five-exposed-to-cigarette-smoke.html http://tobacco.org/news/319491.html Fifty per cent of children aged below five (who are about to start school) are exposed to cigarette smoke at home by their close family members, a recent survey revealed, which also means that Bruneian children think that smoking is normal. One in two babies who are born in the country are exposed to cigarette smoke until, they turn five. And this exposure makes it easy for them to start smoking when they reach their teens. Dr Hjh Anie Haryani bte Hj Abdul Rahman, Senior Medical Officer and Section Head of Tobacco Control of the Environment Health Services of the Ministry of Health, revealed this at the Health Promotion Forum entitled "Core Issues in Youth Health" yesterday. His Royal Highness Prince Haji 'Abdul `Azim, who is the patron of the National Committee for Health Promotion, attended the event. . . . In a survey among the students, it has been found that about 13 per cent of the students are smokers and 87 per cent of the students knew that their peers also smoke. Monitoring needs to be intensified including among teachers who also smoke, students said, adding that the teachers should set an example. On the global situation, Dr Hjh Anie added many chronic diseases at adult stage are caused by their smoking habit as teenagers. Brunei Direct Brunei Fri, 06 May 2011 04:00:00 GMT http://brudirect.com/index.php/2011032042970/Third-Stories/anti-tobacco-drive-targets-young-smokers.html http://tobacco.org/news/316969.html Tobacco-related deaths are increasing in developed and developing countries with 2.4 million deaths in 2000, according to The Tobacco Atlas, World Health Organisation. Unless young people do not take up smoking and current users quit, tobacco may kill one billion people in the 21st century. This was highlighted by speaker Dr Sallehuddin bin Abu Bakar, Director of City Hall, Kuala Lumpur, Health Department Malaysia, in his presentation at the Quit Smoking Counseling Workshop 2011 organised by the Ministry of Health held yesterday at the Health Promotion Centre in Berakas. . . . Some 80 participants comprising staff of Ministry of Health attended the workshop to enhance their knowledge and skills to help smokers to quit smoking as well as enhance the participants' knowledge of the tobacco laws and tobacco control initiative in the country. The workshop also aimed to enhance communication skills while giving advice to smokers who wish to quit smoking as well as provide information on the dangers of smoking and services provided to help smokers to quit smoking. The workshop was also attended by Dr Hjh Maslina binti Hj Mohsin, Director 'of Health Services. The Quit Smoking Counseling Workshop was held in conjunction with "World No Tobacco Day" which is celebrated on May 31 Brunei Direct Brunei Mon, 21 Mar 2011 04:00:00 GMT http://brudirect.com/index.php/2011022540960/HYS-Topic-Of-the-Day/teenagers-flouting-anti-smoking-norm.html http://tobacco.org/news/315856.html As I was walking to my car to get back to work after having lunch in Gadong, I noticed a group of four teenage boys hanging around at one of the complexes. From their uniforms, it was clear that they were from a nearby secondary school, just whiling away their time. And it was disconcerting to see that they were all smoking publicly. Perhaps, they were not aware of the Tobacco Act or simply being openly defiant . . . The Tobacco Control Unit needs to keep its eyes and ears open for such instances and take appropriate action against them in order to show that the law is not something to be trifled with. Brunei Direct Brunei Sat, 26 Feb 2011 05:00:00 GMT http://email.brudirect.com/index.php/2011021039601/Local-News/smoking-poverty-linked-to-high-risk-of-cervical-cancer.html http://tobacco.org/news/315078.html Women smokers have four times the risk of getting cervical cancer, according to Head of the National Cancer yesterday. Dr Hj Muhd Syafiq Abdullah said this in his presentation at a public forum on cancer in Brunei, themed "Cancer Can Be Prevented" yesterday. Asked how the nicotine stick correlated with cancer, Dr Hj Muhd Syafiq said that it was due to the chemical processes behind the smoking. "The chemicals from the cigarette that you smoke make the chemicals that exist on the surface of the cervix less effective so there will be damage done by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)," he said. "It has also been proven that if you are a smoker and you have cervical cancer, the cancer is more aggressive and there is no doubt in this for sure." Brunei Direct Brunei Thu, 10 Feb 2011 05:00:00 GMT http://email.brudirect.com/index.php/2011021339977/HYS-Topic-Of-the-Day/please-increase-the-tobacco-tax-further.html http://tobacco.org/news/315075.html The government's move to increase prices and taxes on tobacco is a smart move. Cancer patients are on the rise, as people smoked to their hearts content with then $3.00 a pack followed by $3.10. At around $7 a pack now, you would think some might cut down. . . . Brunei seems to mirror Singapore quite a bit, and it looks like tobacco prices need to reflect that of our neighbours as well. Come next year or towards the end of the year, hopefully the government will see that $7 is still too cheap for a pack of cigarettes to make people to stop smoking. Brunei should be selling them above $10, since more tax equals more revenue for the government anyways. So at a higher price (and prices that are on constant revision), it will hurt smokers even more which in turn lowers health-care costs and saves them money. Brunei Direct Brunei Mon, 14 Feb 2011 05:00:00 GMT http://www.brudirect.com/index.php/2011012738301/Local-News/cigarettes-top-list-of-smuggled-items.html http://tobacco.org/news/314233.html Cigarettes have shot to the top of the list of smuggled dutiable items in the country following a price hike in tobacco goods in November 2010. This was disclosed during a meeting between Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) officials and grassroots leaders of Mukim Pengkalan Batu. Mouse trails are being used to transport the undeclared goods into the country and RBPF is deploying forest rangers to combat smuggling activities. Chairing the meeting yesterday, Superintendent (Supt) Pengiran Hj Zamani Pengiran Hj Ahmed said that while inspections made at customs checkpoints were clear, smugglers are using mouse trails to flee when they sense the presence of enforcers. Brunei Direct Brunei Thu, 27 Jan 2011 05:00:00 GMT http://www.rtbnews.rtb.gov.bn/?c=newsDetail&news_id=16890 http://tobacco.org/news/313677.html Meanwhile, in the Belait District, the venue for the Youth Run was the Kuala Belait Recreational Park. More than two hundred youths from government and non-government primary and secondary schools as well as colleges took part. The Run was launched by the Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Datin Hajah Adina. Also taking part was the Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health, Datin Doctor Hajah Intan. Male and female participants ran a 5-kilometre distance, while the less abled or O-K-U, just over 2-kilometres. . . . In the Temburong District, a similar activity was held at the Temburong Sports Complex that ended at the Utama Bumiputera Complex in Bangar Town. . . . Meanwhile, in the Tutong District, more than two hundred and fifty youths took part in the Youth Run 2011. Radio Television Brunei Brunei Sun, 16 Jan 2011 05:00:00 GMT http://www.brudirect.com/index.php/2011011637365/Local-News/youth-run-encourages-healthy-lifestyle.html http://tobacco.org/news/313676.html Rain did not stop the 2011 Youth Run programme, which was intended to encourage youths to adopt a healthy lifestyle, as it was held yesterday at the Jalan Sungai Recreational Park area. The guest of honour was Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Datin Hjh Adina Othman. Over 200 participants, including officers and staff of government agencies in the Belait District as well as students from schools and colleges, joined in the activity, along with members of various associations and private companies. It started off with an aerobics exercise and the run was then launched by the deputy minister. Intended for all, especially the Bruneian community, the 2011 Youth Run was handled by the Department of Youth and Sports, Health Promotion Centre, Youth and Sports Associations as well as some private companies. Brunei Direct Brunei Mon, 17 Jan 2011 05:00:00 GMT http://brudirect.com/index.php/2011011637384/Local-News/strong-turnout-at-2011-tutong-district-youth-run.html http://tobacco.org/news/313675.html Over 400 Tutong residents, a large portion of them youths, yesterday participated in the five-kilometre 2011 Tutong District Youth Run that commenced at the Tutong District Sports Complex. After a session of aerobics, the run was flagged off by Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports cum guest of honour Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Hamid bin Hj Jaafar, who later presented prizes to the winners. The day also saw a talk revolving around cigarette-free youths, which was delivered by Health Education Officer Hj Junaidee bin Hj Ahmad from the Health Promotion Centre of the Ministry of Health. Brunei Direct Brunei Mon, 17 Jan 2011 05:00:00 GMT http://www.brudirect.com/index.php/2011011637382/Local-News/minister-participates-in-5-km-youth-run.html http://tobacco.org/news/313674.html The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Paduka Awang Haji Hazair bin Haji Abdullah participated in the five-kilometre Youth Run yesterday at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium, Berakas. This nationwide campaign also took place simultaneously in all four districts. In Kuala Belait, it was held at Taman Persiaran in Jalan Sungai Belait and was attended by the Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS), Datin Hajah Adina binti Othman. Meanwhile, in the Tutong District, the run began at the Tutong Sports Complex, attended by the Permanent Secretary at the MCYS, Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Hamid bin Haji Mohd Jaafar while the run in Temburong was attended by the Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health (MOH), Hajah Siti Mariam bin Haji Mohd Jaafar at the Temburong Sports Complex. Brunei Direct Brunei Mon, 17 Jan 2011 05:00:00 GMT http://brudirect.com/index.php/2011011637355/Third-Stories/youth-run-targets-40000-young-bruneian-smokers.html http://tobacco.org/news/313673.html More than 40,000 Bruneians are found to be smokers with majority of them are youth within the age group of 20 to 34 years old, according to the Ministry of Health (MoH). In response to this, the Youth and Sports Department of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) and the Health Promotion Centre of Ministry of Health (MoH), supported byyouth and sport associations and Superwater Marketing Sdn Bhd, yesterday held the first tri-annual Youth Run that aimed to provide the public a better understanding on the dangers of smoking and at the same time promote a healthy lifestyle for their future. More than a thousand people took part in the run themed "Tobacco-Free Youth" which was held simultaneously in all the country's four districts. Brunei Direct Brunei Mon, 17 Jan 2011 05:00:00 GMT http://www.brudirect.com/index.php/2011011637404/Local-News/participants-give-thumbs-up-to-tobacco-free-youth-run.html http://tobacco.org/news/313672.html Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Datin Hajah Adina Othman (C), joining other participants in an aerobics session held yesterday at Taman Persiaran, Jln Sungai Kuala Belait. Picture: Courtesy of Kok Peir Maw Brunei-Muara, Tutong - Participants of the first ever Youth Run 2011, themed 'Tobacco Free Youth', gave good review on the programme which they said helped in raising awareness of the dangers of smoking and encourage youths, in particular, to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Maziah Mahusin, 17, who woke up early yesterday morning to show her support for the theme shared that she would like to show that a healthy activity is better than "Staying up late and smoking". Brunei Direct Brunei Mon, 17 Jan 2011 05:00:00 GMT http://www.brudirect.com/index.php/2011011637370/Local-News/2011-youth-run-promotes-healthy-life-without-smoking.html http://tobacco.org/news/313671.html Bandar Seri Begawan - Young men and women were not discouraged by the driving rain as they participated in the 2011 Youth Run organised by the Youth and Sports Department, Temburong branch in collaboration with the Health Promotion Centre, Ministry of Health. The guest of honour joined some 170 participants of the Youth Run, which commenced with a warm-up session led by Youth and Sports officer Sahjohan Haji Sahri. The five-kilometre Youth Run started from the Temburong field sports complex and ended at the Bumiputera shop building in Pekan Bangar. The run aimed to promote a healthy lifestyle without smoking among the youth, enable them live in good health, and prevent the risks of lung cancer, high blood pressure and other diseases. Brunei Direct Brunei Mon, 17 Jan 2011 05:00:00 GMT