The program started at 9 a.m. at the Garapan Central Park and participants later displayed anti-smoking banners for motorists on Beach Road.
Janet Maratita, CNMI Diabetes Prevention and Control Program manager and one of the organizers, said the low turnout of participants could be attributed to the observance of Memorial Day, a federal and local holiday.
However, she said, a lot of people are now aware about their ongoing campaign against tobacco.
Event coordinator Leiana Ogumoro of the Community Guidance said they successfully expressed their strong message to the community about the harmful effects of smoking.
Their campaign, she added, is addressed to the members of the public regardless of age, because there are now teenagers already addicted to smoking, she said.
This year’s World No Tobacco Day on Saipan was observed in collaboration with the Department of Public Health, the Commonwealth Cancer Association, the CNMI Diabetes Prevention and Control Program, Northern Marianas College-Cooperative Research Extension and Education Service, the Napu Life Foundation, and the Department of Public Safety’s fire division.
Ogumoro said the different agencies made presentations on health education about tobacco.
