08 June 2009

World Smokefree Day 31st May

Display at IPC to Promote Quitting Smoking

By Kathy Corner and Shirley Ghozalli. Edited by Moira Blake.

World Smokefree Day 2009 poster (The tree is a beautiful Pohutukawa tree, native to New Zealand.)

'World Smokefree Day' (WSFD) in New Zealand, also known worldwide as 'World No Tobacco Day', has been celebrated and promoted on 31st May each year since 1988.

On WSFD, local activities are organized to inform the public about the dangers of using tobacco (especially cigarettes) and what people can do to have a healthy life and to protect future generations. Click here for more information on WSFD.

The theme of WSFD 2009 is 'ME MUTU - KIA KAHA/ GIVE QUITTING A GO - YOU CAN DO IT!' To celebrate, Lecturer Kathy Corner organized a display in the dining hall at IPC Campus on Thursday, 28th and Friday, 29th May. There was a range of booklets for students to read if they were thinking about quitting smoking, definitely wanting to quit, or had quit but relapsed. Also on display was a case full of the nasty chemicals that are in a cigarette, for example: petrol, paint stripper and ammonia as well as chocolate and honey to make it taste nice!! Nicotine lozenges were available free for smokers who were thinking about quitting, and moneyboxes in which people giving up could put the money they saved by not buying cigarettes. Kathy, assisted by a number of non-smoker students, encouraged all students to investigate the display and also to support any friends who decided to "Give quitting a go".

Many students also participated in a quiz on the effects of smoking. This put them into the draw for a number of prizes. First prize was a $40 voucher for the George St Cafe donated by Karl Gill. Second prize was a lovely soft small teddy bear donated by the Cancer Society. Five more prizes of vouchers for candy were donated by Downtown cinemas.

It is hoped that this promotion will encourage more students to think about quitting smoking.

Kathy Corner is a trained Quit Coach and is available to help students and staff to quit. She is able to offer counselling as well as nicotine patches and gum or lozenges.

Kuldeep Kaur (left, a 2008 student) and Kathy Corner promote quitting smoking

The WSFD 2009 display in dining hall

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