Cigarette packs would deter smokers

Since smoking in Belarus are struggling, but the work is decentralized. The opinion was expressed by Deputy Minister of Health - Chief State Sanitary Doctor Valentina Kachan at the meeting of Coordination Council for Tobacco Control.

Decisions concerning the fight against smoking should be more strictly, said the Deputy Minister. In a number of them may be the increased cost of tobacco products, the expansion of smoke-free environments, and respect for age in the sale of cigarettes, as well as more rapid adoption of Standard Card packaging of tobacco products.

The new GOST as a means to combat smoking

The new GOST 3935-2000 «Cigarettes. General Conditions »Gosstandart passed and takes effect June 1st, 2010, the head of the department of food and tobacco concern« Belgospisheprom »Inessa Minova. The standard provides for changes in registration packs for cigarettes. No less than 30% of the total package will contain information about the dangers of smoking to health.

The main inscription will read: «Smoking - the reason for the development of cardiovascular disease and cancer». On the other side of the stack will be located an additional sign that will change. Among the options for the caption I. Minova called: «Smoking contributes to the development of impotence and female infertility», «Smoking - the cause of heart attacks and strokes», «Smoking - severe dependence, do not start smoking», «Smokers die young», «Restrict children from tobacco smoke »etc.

According to I. Minova, a switch to release a new pack of cigarettes takes time. She reported that the Grodno tobacco factory «Neman» has already begun preparations for the manufacture of tobacco products in accordance with the new guests.

At the same time V. Kachan with noted that the coordinating council will soon address in Gossandart a proposal to accelerate the beginning of the new Standard.

Smokers - in the zone

Belarus is not enough smoke-free environments, their number should increase, says Valentina Kachan. These zones are established in accordance with the Comprehensive tobacco control programs in the Republic of Belarus for 2008-2010.

V. Kachan stressed that the task of coordinating council is to initiate the establishment of an increasing number of such zones. Among them, according to experts, could include, for example, the area of Independence Park Cheluskintsev in Minsk. «Let the country be reserved area for smoking, and most urban places will be free of it», - considers V. Kachan.

In terms of capital, currently in Partizanski Zavodskoy, Pervomaysky Moscow and regions of the territory free from smoking, declared: the Central Children's Park to them. Gorky, Minsk city zoo, the Central Botanical Garden; factory of sparkling wines, JSC «GMZ number 1»; bakery «Automatic»; Belarusian State Pedagogical University Park area neighborhood Malinovka, printing company UE «Hodar»; park «Drimlend» and some other objects.

This rule does not smoke in areas free from smoking, not being fully respected. Referring specifically BGPU, V. Kachan noted that this institution can not be considered as a zone free from smoking. According to the Deputy Minister, she watches every day, near the entrance to smoke as students - future teachers.

Smoking is becoming less

Yet the number of smokers is decreasing in Belarus. According to the results of sociological research, in comparison with 2001 the percentage of smokers of the Belarusian population has declined from 42% to 32.3%.

Belarussians with age becoming more critical to smoking. Among the people of mature age, the percentage of smokers is lower than among the young.



Among women, fewer smokers than among men.



Social status of smokers is.



Coordinating Board on Tobacco Control will continue to further the attack on smoking. People will be informed about the real health risks and alternative forms of behavior, ways of ending their use and treatment of tobacco dependence.

As the head of the department of public health of the Republican Center of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health Olga Bartman, in clinics and hospital clinics for drug use and non-medical methods of treatment for tobacco dependence, providing psychological care for patients. Use the method of acupuncture treatment. In urban clinical drug dispensary introduced medication for tobacco dependence medication «Tabeks». Used psychotherapeutic technique stressoterapii method Dovzhenko.

As a result of the Comprehensive tobacco control programs by 2010 is expected to decline in the active use of tobacco products among children under age 15 to 20% of people aged 16-20 years - 10%, 21-30 years - 7%, over 30 years - 5%.

As a result, doctors hope to reduce the morbidity and mortality caused by tobacco use.