Cancer Society Stages Youth Anti-Tobacco Forum Tomorrow

The Jamaica Cancer Society will stage its third annual Anti-Tobacco Youth Forum today (February 16) under the theme: ‘We hold the future in our hands… Let’s begin by making it smoke free.'

Scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Girl Guides Association of Jamaica headquarters in Kingston, the forum targets students from schools in Kingston and St. Andrew, and St. Catherine.

Speaking with JIS News, Fundraising and Public Relations Officer of the Society, Shullian Brown, stated that the event will seek to “educate the youth about the harmful effects of tobacco smoking as tobacco kills more than five million people each year."        

“Smoking can give young people the feeling of being hip and hot.  But the downside to that is the development of lung cancer and various forms of illnesses that I don’t think they are aware of,” she stated.

Statistics provided by the Jamaica Cancer Society show that approximately 80,000 young people across the world become addicted to tobacco each day. Ms. Brown said if trends continue, then an estimated 250 million children and young people will die as a result of tobacco smoking-related illnesses.

She noted that public education is imperative as smoking does not only affect the smoker, as an alarming 600,000 second-hand smokers die each year and the number is inclusive of 165,000 children.

A wide variety of presentations, including a dramatic performance by the Youth Reaching Youth Voluntary Group, will be made to the students and teachers, who will attend the forum, so as to increase their knowledge of the effects of tobacco smoking.

Among the scheduled presenters are Pulmonologist and Senior Medical Officer, Dr. Terry Baker; Oriental Physician, Dr. Tracey-Ann Brown; President of the Caribbean Public Health Association, Milton Pinnock; Counselling Psychologist, Alexis Goffe; and Representative from the Tobacco Control Project, Mrs. Babara McGaw.

Ms. Brown informed that presenters will draw from the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) Biology syllabus, in an effort to allow students to make connection with what they have been taught in school, as well as to clarify any myths associated with tobacco-related illnesses.

This forum is being held as part of the Jamaica Cancer Society’s thrust to promoting healthy lifestyles during the month of February.

By Toni-Ann Russell, JIS PRO