Materia Medica Malaysiana

Anti-smoking drive should target the young

The young should be targeted in the anti-smoking campaign, as many of them are picking up the habit, said state Assistant Minister for Public Health Dr Soon Choon Teck.
“The trend should be stopped,” he added after launching a healthy lifestyle campaign organised by the state Health Department at the waterfront here yesterday.
Dr Soon said smokers risked having heart problems and urged parents to show a good example by staying away from cigarettes and excessive consumption of alcohol.
He was concerned that some youths in their early 20s were found to be suffering from hypertension.
It was also important for people to lead a healthy lifestyle and cut down on oily food to check obesity, he said, adding that cycling was a good form of exercise.
Earlier, at the ceremony, he urged local authorities and developers to provide cycling tracks, which were lacking in cities and towns.