KOROR (Palau Horizon) — President Tommy Remengesau has declared May 31 as World No Tobacco Day and urged the public to observe and take part in activities that will prevent tobacco-related diseases.
Remengesau’s Presidential Proclamation 02-22 also expressed support for tobacco-free sports and a healthy lifestyle.
May 31 of each year has been designated by the World Health organization as World No Tobacco Day.
The theme for this year’s event is tobacco-free sports.
“Sports is a celebration if life inspiring healthy living and healthy competition—involvement in sports has been found to reduce the likelihood that young persons will use tobacco and other drugs,” Remengesau said.
According to the president, the prevalence rate among Palau’s youth indicates that 58 percent of elementary school students and 71 percent of high school students are users of tobacco products with some starting as early as five years old.
Remengesau said tobacco use causes diseases and deaths and would become the world’s leading cause of death of disability by 2020, killing more than 10 million people each year and thus causing more deaths worldwide than HIV, tuberculosis, maternal mortality, car crashes, suicides and homicides combined.
He said the public should be more involved in sports because it creates an environment that will prevent tobacco use among children and will encourage adults to abstain from the use of tobacco and illegal drugs
The highlight of the May 31 celebration is the announcement of the winners of the Tobacco Control Program’s Quit and Win 2002 contest.
Two-hundred participants signed up for the contest and will try to quit using tobacco from May 2 to 31.
Tobacco use means smoking tobacco or chewing betel nut with tobacco.
The Quit and Win contest winner will get $10,000.
