Nafas Baru Ramadan Campaign Gets Smokers To Quit Habit, Slowly But Surely

ALOR STAR, Sept 29 (Bernama) -- The "Nafas Baru Ramadan" campaign which persuades smokers to quit the habit during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan has been successful, slowly but surely.
Deputy Director General of Health (Public Health) Datuk Dr Shafie Ooyub said the number of smokers nationwide who had given up smoking had increased by 20 to 30 per cent after the launch of the campaign, which is into its third year.
"We have no information on the number who quit smoking but from the feedback received by the Health Department, the campaign proved effective in promoting awareness," he told reporters after launching the national-level World Heart Day 2005, here Thursday.
Hence, he said, in the coming fasting month, the campaign would proceed on a medium-scale and he called on the smokers to take the opportunity to quit the habit during that month.
Dr Shafie said the campaign would only be publicised over the media and through Friday sermons nationwide.
"Those who have problems in quitting smoking could obtain advice from the Stop Smoking Clinic found in every district nationwide," he said, adding that smoking could increase the risk of a smoker suffering from heart disease.
Dr Shafie said it was easier to quit smoking with the availability of the clinic and with the help of medication as opposed to the previous "cold turkey" approach.