This year’s theme is ‘Grow Food Not Tobacco’.
A record 349 million people across 79 countries are facing acute food insecurity; many are in low and middle-income countries, including over 30 countries on the African continent. Many of these countries use large areas of fertile land to grow tobacco, rather than healthy food. Growing tobacco causes ill health among farmers and farm workers and irreversible environmental loss of precious resources such as water sources, forests, plants and animal species.
Tobacco growing harms our health, the health of farmers and the planet’s health.
For more information about the Worldwide Campaign click this link World No Tobacco Day 2023 (who.int)
In Northern Ireland, our most deprived neighbourhoods have the highest percentages of smokers. Smoking widens the gap in health inequalities and lowers the quality of life for smokers and their families.
Cigarettes are more expensive than they ever have been and many families will be suffering from food insecurities, due to a higher percentage of the household budget going up in smoke.
In Belfast Trust, The Health Improvement Team provide Stop Smoking Support for staff who smoke via the phone or face to face. Free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is also available for staff who avail of this support
Over half of the staff who engage and set a quit date in this service
are successful at stopping smoking.
To make a referral for a patient please follow this link
If you are a member of staff, you can refer yourself by completing the online referral form.
For more information visit the BWell site Stop Smoking | B Well Belfast
One of our Stop Smoking Specialists (Paul OKane) recently interviewed professor Robert West about Stopping Smoking.
You can listen to the podcast here
To get in touch with the Stop Smoking Service call 02895046714.
