Channel NewsAsia - 57 minutes ago
SINGAPORE: The Health Promotion Board (HPB) has decided to use flowers to encourage more women to quit smoking.
HPB’s representatives distributed geberas’ to women in the Central Business District on 17 March as part of a new effort by the Fresh Air for Women’ network.
The latest campaign targets women aged between 18 and 29 as HPB found that this group has the highest number of female smokers.
A 2004 health survey found that the percentage of young women who smoke daily rose from five per cent in 1998 to seven per cent in 2004.
Rachel Ngo Xiu Tong, Senior Executive, Smoking Control, Health Promotion Board, said: “Every woman has a family so we hope that they will seriously think about quitting. Not just for themselves but for their loved ones, be it a family member, a parent, even for their partner."
And the spokesperson for this year’s campaign is the late Zita Roberts. The mother of three was 38—years—old when she died from lung cancer in 2007.
Fresh Air for Women’ hopes that Zita’s message of pain, anguish and regret will reinforce the message that death from lung cancer is very real and that smoking tears families apart as well.
A total of 18,000 flowers will be given out at various locations island—wide and each flower comes with a message of support and inspiration.
Also part of the mobile campaign is a display which is made up of 3,000 gerberas that forms the word strength’.
For more on the latest anti—smoking campaign, log on to www.freshair.sg. — CNA/vm
Channel NewsAsia - 2 hours 37 minutes ago
SINGAPORE: More women are smoking. The Health Promotion Board (HPB) of Singapore discovered this during a survey which also revealed that the number of male smokers is dwindling.
To help women quit smoking, the Fresh Air for Women (FAFW) network, an initiative by the HPB, has launched a very public drive.
It has set up a Glass House along the Orchard Road shopping belt and won the support of a 26 year old smoker who is openly declaring her determination to quit.
Cheyenne Lu will spend three days in the Glass House in her battle to stop smoking and go cold turkey during that time.
The first three days, also known as the 'three—day hump’ is the most difficult period of quitting and Lu will put the philosophy to the test while showcasing a smoker’s smoke—free journey.
If the attention she draws living the Glass House won’t get Lu to stick out the urge for a stick, the FAFW has also provided her with wireless internet access, a collection of her favourite DVDs and an entertainment system to play them on, as well as stylish furnishings and snacks.
In addition, the HPB has arranged for several activities to keep the freelance writer distracted and help her overcome any cigarette cravings. These activities include fitness workouts, make—up sessions and consultations with a quit advisor.
Through the effort, the FAFW hopes other women smokers can learn ways to also quit smoking.
Ms Choo Lin, Deputy Director of the Health Promotion Board’s Smoking Control Programme said: “This is the first time that someone is going to quit smoking in such a public event. I think that this shows her commitment and her courage and that is very important for FAFW because that is what we represent, we want to encourage women to feel the strength and try to stop smoking.
“I think many women are very afraid of issues such as weight gain or stress or temptation (if they quit) we hope that through Cheyenne’s actions, they will feel inspired and more courageous to give (quitting) a try.”
Like many, Lu who has been smoking for 12 years started the habit during her teen years due to ”peer pressure”.
The heavy smoker who describes her latest effort as “one of the biggest challenges” in her life, has been smoking about 12 to 15 sticks a day.
In terms of health cost, Lu saw a deterioration in her health and skin condition, forcing her to steer herself in a smoke—free direction.
Financially, she calculated that she’d been spending more than S$300 a month on cigarettes.
The money saved from cigarettes she reasoned, could go towards a ticket to London where the soccer fan can do something she’d dreamed of —— catching her favourite football club, Arsenal in action.
“It’s a start where I consciously save the money used for smoking, and use it for something that is more meaningful and beneficial to me things which I can enjoy more than smoking itself, like travelling to England to watch Sesc Fabregas and Arsenal play!”
Lu will document her smoke free journey on her online blog. Members of the public are also invited to leave her messages of encouragement through her message board or visit the glass house outside Ngee Ann City to cheer her on.
Log on to www.freshair.sg for more information on anti—smoking campaigns. -CNA/yb
Channel NewsAsia - Monday, April 14
SINGAPORE: A 26—year—old smoker who has been smoking for nearly half her lifetime has managed to spend the weekend free from cigarettes.
Cheyenne Lu spent three days and two nights living in a glass house set up by the Health Promotion Board (HPB).
Ms Lu said this weekend was her longest time without a cigarette since she was 14.
She said her previous attempts to quit failed because she did not tell her family or friends she was trying to give up.
But this time she had the support from her family, friends and the HPB.
Her mother, Josephine Teo, said: "Now I think she’s determined, so I think she will do it. She didn’t smoke at all in the last three days, so I think she will make it."
After spending her weekend in the glass house along Orchard Road, Ms Lu said: "It is difficult especially when you see people walking past and lighting up. But the thing is, being in here for three days and two nights and not smoking, despite having other smokers around me, has proved to me that I can do this even when I’m out with my smoking friends. I can persevere and go on smoke—free."
She has kept a blog of her experience to encourage other women to kick the habit.
The project is part of HPB’s Fresh Air for Women campaign to counter the growing trend of smoking among young women.
Choo Lin, HPB’s deputy director of smoking control, said: "We (brought) in a quit counsellor and she basically drew up a quit plan for Cheyenne. That is one of the most important things to be prepared."
Over the weekend, visits from friends and family helped distract Ms Lu from thoughts of smoking. A fitness instructor was also brought in to teach her yoga and pilates to stretch her mind and muscles, and help her cope with stress.
The public also left messages to motivate her to remain smoke—free. — CNA/ac
i hope my friends quit
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/cna/20080414/tap-341375-231650b.html