Tobacco-free zones soon

by Carol Aloysius

The Public Health Inspectors Union All Island is getting ready to launch several "No Tobacco Zones" in selected cities in every MOH area in the country next month.

"We have 38 MOH areas and we will select cities in those areas to set up these zones which is an urgent need in the country, as tobacco smoking is still widely prevalent," a spokesman for the Union told the Sunday Observer.

He said smoking tobacco was increasingly spreading among youth with even school children getting addicted to the habit. Tobacco is the leading cause for lung cancer which is on the increase in Sri Lanka.

In spite of efforts to compel the tobacco industry to carry warning labels on cigarette packs, we found that many boutiques and other outlets selling them without any warning and mostly in loose form. We have decided to launch "No Tobacco Zones" to control this, he said.