Smokers shy to get help to quit

NST: GEORGE TOWN: The ambitious project to get 30 per cent of smokers to attend quit-smoking clinics has failed.
The Health Ministry had expected about 30 per cent of the estimated 4.6 million smokers nationwide to register for advice and counselling with such clinics.
However, after five years, the ministry’s recent survey showed that only 20 per cent had registered.
Health Ministry’s parliamentary secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon said one of the reasons for the failure to achieve the target was lack of awareness about the clinics.
Another reason was attributed to smokers’ shyness in seeking help from the clinics.
"Of course, many of them simply refuse to quit.
"We will redouble our efforts in the anti-smoking campaign to ensure more people sign up with the clinics," he said after launching the Ops Tak Nak campaign at SMK (C) Sacred Heart in Balik Pulau near here yesterday.
The government had allocated RM7 million for the anti- smoking campaign aimed at reducing the number of smokers in the country.
In Malaysia, more than 50 per cent of the male population are smokers, higher than the United States (35 per cent) and the United Kingdom (38 per cent).
The government introduced the "Tak Nak" programme in 2004, but it was also a failure.
Despite the failure, the government would continue to embark on its anti-smoking campaign.
Lee said the Ops Tak Nak would be promoted in schools and student smokers would be referred to the clinics for help.
"Teachers will still carry out spot-checks in classes to detect students who bring cigarettes to school so that appropriate action can be taken against smokers.
"Officers from the Health Department will also conduct checks at coffee shops and supermarkets mainly thronged by students."