Press Release World No Tobacco Day By Project EMBRACE Choam Ksant District, Preah Vihear Province May 31, 2019 On May 31, 2019, members of ADRA Cambodia’s EMBRACE team celebrated World No Tobacco Day 2019 on the theme of "Tobacco and Lung Health" in Rumdosh Srae commune, Choam Ksant district, Preah Vihear province. They highlighted the harmful effects of tobacco and the second hand
smoke on children, newborn babies, and pregnant women, the key beneficiaries that EMBRACE project is targeting. The session was held in cooperation with the Provincial Health Department, Operational District and the local authorities in Choam Ksant district with a total of 388 participants (273 females) coming from 4 villages of Rumdosh Srae commune, Choam Ksant district, Preah Vihear province.
The Key Objectives were: 1. To improve knowledge of people in the community to aware the serious effects of tobacco use. 2. People will know the serious effects of tobacco use on pregnant women and children. 3. Encourage people (parents, caregivers) to give up tobacco use to improve their health and people around. The event was broadcasted live on air at 10am to 11am from the EMBRACE radio program in Tbeng Meachey Radio FM97. MHz and 3.00pm to 4.00pm from Sra Em Radio station FM99. MHz which opened to questions for participants to ask guest speakers related to the event. There were also local television media channels presented during the event. Mr. Sem Rithy, Senior Assistant Project Manager of EMBRACE Project based in Choam Ksant, encouraged people during the event that if they wanted to quit smoking they could give their names to the group facilitators in their villages and then the project would work with specialists and organized the needed trainings and counseling. He expressed thankfulness to the government and local authorities that always support the every project activities.
Mr. Ling Yuth, the governor of Choam Ksant district, expressed thankfulness with ADRA’s EMBRACE project which supportes both materials and fund for Choam Ksant district authorities. He added that for the benefit of the community and the health of all, people would stop using tobacco products, which will contribute to improving the health and welfare of the community, and supporting the government in developing the country. In particular, it affects women and children who smoke secondhand smoke in the premature and incomplete environment. Finally, he also calls on citizens to quit smoking for good health. At the same time, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics of the Ministry of Planning 2014, out of more than 15 million Cambodians, more than 2 million are tobacco consumers. And according to the Ministry of Health's additional report, Cambodia has lost about 10,000 people every year. Mr. Yim Song Kon, Deputy of PHD Preah Vihear, was also thankful to ADRA Cambodia that always supports and helps this event to raise awareness to community to stop smoking. He shared his experience how he stopped smoking successfully, “I was a smoker myself but now I quit. Smoking has three major effects, it affects our own health, affects other people with secondhand smoke, and it wastes money. Quitting smoking is not really difficult. I simply told myself I wanted to stop smoking; I tried to reduce the numbers of cigarettes every day until I can quit; and during the time I tried to stay away from the smokers.” In his address, he made an appeal to the people who were smoking to quit smoking. Project EMBRACE (Enhancing Mother/Newborn/Child Health in Remote Areas through Health Care and Community Engagement), is being implemented by ADRA Cambodia. It is primarily funded by Canada’s International Development – Global Affairs Canada department with support from ADRA Canada’s generous donors.
For me information, please contact: 1. 2.
Mr. Sem Rithy: Senior Assistant Project Manager of EMBRACE, ADRA Cambodia Tel: 077 800 013 ; Email: rithys@ADRAcambodia.org Mr. Kong Phano: Public Relations Coordinator, ADRA Cambodia Tel: 077 398 477 ; Email: phanok@ADRAcambodia.org