More youth smoking

National Health Surveillance Survey
To counter trend, HPB emphasises hip and cool tobacco-free lifestyle

Alicia Wong, alicia@mediacorp.com.sg

THE graphic images of tar-coated lungs and diseased mouths have helped cut smoking for some years, but it appears they are having less of an impact now, with the latest survey showing the first rise in the national smoking rate in 15 years.

So the Health Promotion Board (HPB) is shifting to a more positive tack by highlighting the benefits of a tobacco-free lifestyle. And it is targeting its message especially at young people, among whom there has been a huge jump in those taking up smoking. These younger smokers are typically less affected by the gory images.

Smoking among young men — those aged 18 to 29 — jumped sharply to 25.4 per cent in 2007 from 18.2 per cent in 2004, according to results released yesterday of the HPB's National Health Surveillance Survey. Among the women in the same age group, 9.1 per cent smoked in 2007 compared to just 6.6 per cent in 2004.

While the number of older smokers dropped modestly, the sharp rise in the number of young people smoking contributed to a one-percentage-point increase in smokers aged 18 to 69 in 2007 from 2004's 12.6 per cent. This was the first increase since 1992, when 18.3 per cent of those in this age range smoked.

"Previously we focused on the adult population because they had the biggest number of smokers," said HPB chief executive Lam Pin Woon, "We can identify that the slight uptake from 2004 to 2007 was due to the increase in youth (smokers)."

According to the survey, the top three reasons given by young people for smoking were: To cope with stress, they were addicted and "out of habit". Most started experimenting with tobacco at 16.

Mr Lam acknowledged that warning young people of the long-term harmful effects of smoking would be largely futile as the message would not "resonate with them". And "the more you try to use the law, the more they will rebel against it," he said.

So, the National Smoking Control Campaign 2009 — themed "Live it up without lighting up" and aimed at the younger smokers — will show that a tobacco-free lifestyle is hip and cool. The campaign emphasises the short-term benefits of not smoking, such as staying fit, looking good and having more cash in the pocket.

The three-month-long campaign, which started last month, features various events such as a T-shirt design contest, a fashion event and a hip hop competition.

The HPB is also enhancing its National Smoking Control Programme. From Friday, those aged below 18 caught smoking will be put through a mandatory online counselling course to encourage them to quit. For young working adults who want to kick the habit, the HPB will offer voucher redemption opportunities.

From TODAY, News – Wednesday, 29-April-2009

More youth smoking

National Health Surveillance Survey
To counter trend, HPB emphasises hip and cool tobacco-free lifestyle

Alicia Wong, alicia@mediacorp.com.sg

THE graphic images of tar-coated lungs and diseased mouths have helped cut smoking for some years, but it appears they are having less of an impact now, with the latest survey showing the first rise in the national smoking rate in 15 years.

So the Health Promotion Board (HPB) is shifting to a more positive tack by highlighting the benefits of a tobacco-free lifestyle. And it is targeting its message especially at young people, among whom there has been a huge jump in those taking up smoking. These younger smokers are typically less affected by the gory images.

Smoking among young men — those aged 18 to 29 — jumped sharply to 25.4 per cent in 2007 from 18.2 per cent in 2004, according to results released yesterday of the HPB's National Health Surveillance Survey. Among the women in the same age group, 9.1 per cent smoked in 2007 compared to just 6.6 per cent in 2004.

While the number of older smokers dropped modestly, the sharp rise in the number of young people smoking contributed to a one-percentage-point increase in smokers aged 18 to 69 in 2007 from 2004's 12.6 per cent. This was the first increase since 1992, when 18.3 per cent of those in this age range smoked.

"Previously we focused on the adult population because they had the biggest number of smokers," said HPB chief executive Lam Pin Woon, "We can identify that the slight uptake from 2004 to 2007 was due to the increase in youth (smokers)."

According to the survey, the top three reasons given by young people for smoking were: To cope with stress, they were addicted and "out of habit". Most started experimenting with tobacco at 16.

Mr Lam acknowledged that warning young people of the long-term harmful effects of smoking would be largely futile as the message would not "resonate with them". And "the more you try to use the law, the more they will rebel against it," he said.

So, the National Smoking Control Campaign 2009 — themed "Live it up without lighting up" and aimed at the younger smokers — will show that a tobacco-free lifestyle is hip and cool. The campaign emphasises the short-term benefits of not smoking, such as staying fit, looking good and having more cash in the pocket.

The three-month-long campaign, which started last month, features various events such as a T-shirt design contest, a fashion event and a hip hop competition.

The HPB is also enhancing its National Smoking Control Programme. From Friday, those aged below 18 caught smoking will be put through a mandatory online counselling course to encourage them to quit. For young working adults who want to kick the habit, the HPB will offer voucher redemption opportunities.

From TODAY, News – Wednesday, 29-April-2009

‘Opt for Happy Toilets’

CLEANLINESS STANDARD

Letter from Emerson Hee

Project Executive, Restroom Association (Singapore)

ON APRIL 9, in response to the food poisoning incident at Geylang Serai, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan commented that the current cleanliness standard is unacceptable as compared to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) period in 2003 when the standard was very good. He quoted the example of the Toilet OK campaign launched during the Sars period when the toilets were “OK” but they are no longer so.

Our association concurs strongly with Mr Khaw’s comments especially on the deteriorating standard of public toilets. Riding on the heightened awareness of public hygiene during the Sars period, we launched the Happy Toilet Programme (HTP) in June 2003 to complement the Toilet OK campaign. After about five years, we conducted a survey last year and only 26 per cent of the survey respondents indicated that the toilets are “OK”.

Our survey also revealed that 84 per cent stated that dirty toilets are one of the reasons for not visiting the premises and 70 per cent opined that irresponsible users are the cause of dirty toilets. We will continue to conduct the survey every year to compare and study the data.

With the deteriorating standard of public toilets, we launched the LOO Campaign last year. For the past one year before the launch of the campaign, about 170 toilets had been certified Happy Toilets. Some locations of these Happy Toilets are hawker centres, petrol stations, restaurants, shopping centres, tourist attractions, factories and hospitals. After the launch of the campaign, about 120 toilets have been certified Happy Toilets — including three coffeeshops within walking distance in Woodlands — with about 50 more toilets to be assessed and awarded in the next two months. Locations of these toilets are hawker centres, petrol stations, coffeeshops and shopping centres.

In conjunction with the LOO Campaign, we revamped the HTP grading system to include satisfaction — satisfied toilet visitors — to ensure a pleasant experience for the toilet users.

Therefore, we wish to appeal to the public to support our HTP by opting to only visit Happy Toilets. Though cleanliness of public toilets remain a challenge, public awareness of personal hygiene has been heightened through this food poisoning incident with some demanding clean public toilets not only for themselves but also stallholders preparing the food. Therefore, we strongly urge the public to start practising good toilet etiquette from home to public places so as to prevent a similar tragedy from happening again in the future.

From TODAY, Voices – Thursday, 16-April-2009

‘Opt for Happy Toilets’

CLEANLINESS STANDARD

Letter from Emerson Hee

Project Executive, Restroom Association (Singapore)

ON APRIL 9, in response to the food poisoning incident at Geylang Serai, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan commented that the current cleanliness standard is unacceptable as compared to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) period in 2003 when the standard was very good. He quoted the example of the Toilet OK campaign launched during the Sars period when the toilets were “OK” but they are no longer so.

Our association concurs strongly with Mr Khaw’s comments especially on the deteriorating standard of public toilets. Riding on the heightened awareness of public hygiene during the Sars period, we launched the Happy Toilet Programme (HTP) in June 2003 to complement the Toilet OK campaign. After about five years, we conducted a survey last year and only 26 per cent of the survey respondents indicated that the toilets are “OK”.

Our survey also revealed that 84 per cent stated that dirty toilets are one of the reasons for not visiting the premises and 70 per cent opined that irresponsible users are the cause of dirty toilets. We will continue to conduct the survey every year to compare and study the data.

With the deteriorating standard of public toilets, we launched the LOO Campaign last year. For the past one year before the launch of the campaign, about 170 toilets had been certified Happy Toilets. Some locations of these Happy Toilets are hawker centres, petrol stations, restaurants, shopping centres, tourist attractions, factories and hospitals. After the launch of the campaign, about 120 toilets have been certified Happy Toilets — including three coffeeshops within walking distance in Woodlands — with about 50 more toilets to be assessed and awarded in the next two months. Locations of these toilets are hawker centres, petrol stations, coffeeshops and shopping centres.

In conjunction with the LOO Campaign, we revamped the HTP grading system to include satisfaction — satisfied toilet visitors — to ensure a pleasant experience for the toilet users.

Therefore, we wish to appeal to the public to support our HTP by opting to only visit Happy Toilets. Though cleanliness of public toilets remain a challenge, public awareness of personal hygiene has been heightened through this food poisoning incident with some demanding clean public toilets not only for themselves but also stallholders preparing the food. Therefore, we strongly urge the public to start practising good toilet etiquette from home to public places so as to prevent a similar tragedy from happening again in the future.

From TODAY, Voices – Thursday, 16-April-2009