KUALA LUMPUR – Screenings conducted on 1.3 million secondary school students through the Oral Health Tobacco-Free programme last year found that a total of 43,019 students were involved in the smoking habit.
Deputy Health Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni said that during the same period, screenings conducted on two million primary school pupils found 341 were also into the habit.
“Those identified as smokers were given the intervention for smoking cigarettes, while those who do not smoke were given continuous health education to ensure they remain smoke-free,” he said during the question and answer session at the Dewan Negara today.
He said this in reply to a question from Senator N. Balasubramaniam who wanted to know the latest developments by the Ministry of Health (MoH) concerning the Anti-Smoking Generational End Game 18 Plan (Gegar-18) and how successful it had been.
Lukanisman said MoH would continue to strengthen and expand the Gegar-18 programme which aims to provide legal knowledge and continuous education to create a smoke-free environment.
“The Gegar-18 campaign was also organised at nine higher learning institutions in collaboration with the Volunteer Foundation and the Higher Education Ministry.
“In line with the Gegar-18 campaign, 19 university campuses implemented the University Quit Smoking Services programme and conducted screenings and interventions to stop the smoking habit among undergraduates,” he said
He said MoH would also extend the campaign to youths not at any higher learning institutions through the Malaysian Youth Council and other related organisations. – Bernama, April 4, 2023
