This article is from page 13 of the 2006-05-09 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 13 JPG
MORE than 200 Clare people die needlessly each year because of the effects of tobacco smoking. This is the message being promoted by an new Europe-wide campaign which was launched at the University of Limerick on Thursday.
The HELP Campaign aims to educate people, and young people in particular, about the dangers and damage that smoking can do to their health and lifestyle. HELP travels to regions around Europe and measures the carbon monoxide levels in the lungs of people in each area.
“People are genuinely interested in giving up smoking, they know every cigarette is doing them damage,” said event organiser Benoit Puissant. “Many people do not understand all the problems associated with smoking, and we are always trying to raise awareness amongst smokers that they should try to kick the habit.”
North Clare Councillor, Martin Conway (FG), travelled to Limerick to help launch the campaign in the area.
“As a young politician I feel that there is an extra responsibly on me to help educate young people about the dangers of smoking,” said Cllr Conway.
“Every family in the county has been touched by smoking in some way. As politicians we fight about a lot of different things but when it comes to health and smoking we have to have an extra level of responsibility to help people quit.”
While the campaign is aimed at all smokers, it is particularly concerned with young people and those who suffer from second hand smoke inhalation or passive smoking.
With more than 7,000 people dying in Ireland because of smoke related illnesses each year the Irish Cancer Society has come on board to help promote the HELP Campaigns message in Ireland.
“The campaign will be travelling to different locations across Europe over the next few months, spreading the word about the dangers of tobacco smoking,” said Siobhan Smyth. “It is not just cancer, smoking causes a variety of illnesses from heart disease to diabetes and people are dying from these every day.”
The HELP Campaign will return to the west of Ireland in the coming months and more Carbon Monoxide levels will be taken.