Quit Smoking !

Only a smoker would understand

If you are not a smoker or has never been one, you won’t be able to truly understand – it is  difficult to quit smoking. The crave for the dose of nicotine and the so many other hazardous chemicals in the cigarette smoke is very difficult to resist. Once you are hooked, it is difficult to free yourself. It takes a strong commitment and willpower  to go through the journey to freedom. Yes, freedom !

I was touched by the short montage shown during the ceremony held at Dewan Sultan Iskandar, on the morning of 31st of May 2012.  It delivered a simple message – give us a chance, an opportunity for clean air – from more than 75 % of the population, the vast majority of people who were forced to be “passive smokers” to smokes conveniently distributed by the thoughtless smokers. The song delivered by the school children was superb, with “very touching” lyrics.  If you were there, you’d think twice before smoking in public places.

Hari Tanpa Tembakau Sedunia

The annual ceremony to launch the anti-smoking campaign was held at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, in conjunction with the World No Tobacco Day,  officiated by the honorable Chief Minister of Johor, Yang Amat Berhormat Datuk Seri Abd. Ghani Othman. Along with exhibitions, a mobile dental clinics and other activities were organised.

Signing the MOU on “Johor Bebas Asap Rokok” initiative

The event was followed by the signing ceremony between Lembaga Promosi Kesihatan Malaysia (MySihat) and Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia Negeri Johor (Ikram Johor) to mark the serious effort to keep the state of Johor free from cigarette smokes. And I was honored to be involved, to ink my signature on behalf of Ikram Johor.

An agreement sealed between MySihat & Ikram Johor – Lets work together

Johor Bebas Asap Rokok (JBAR)

JBAR is one initiative spearheaded by the Department of health of the Johor state government. Along with various NGO’s a campaigm was initiated and an umbrella organisation was proposed (now awaiting aproval).

Lunch with MySihat

Visit of MySihat to Kompleks Ikram Johor

To break the ice and hopefully strengthen our working relationships, the board of directors of MySihat was invited for a short visit to Kompleks Ikram Johor in Taman Universiti, Skudai.

MySihat visit to Kompleks Ikram Johor (Sitting at the centre: Dr Wahab Dato Kosai,  Toh Puan Aishah Ong- Pengerusi MySihat, and Datuk Dr Yahya Baba-CEO MySihat)

Quit smoking while you still have a chance…

Many people said that they wanted to quit smoking, but they never did. For those smokers who are still “hooked” by cigarettes, you just have to convince yourself that you are a strong person, you are independent, you are free to do what you like. And one of the thing that you can do is to quit smoking. If you can start it, you can also stop it. Make a strong commitment, go ahead and quit. You’ll be healthier, you’ll save money, but most importantly, you are giving other people their rights for clean air. Do it before it’s too late and you’ll have the satisfaction for such a great victory. Believe me, I know it very well… because I was once there, trying to cross the bridge … and I made it… Free at last…

Some of the chemicals associated with cigarette. Taken from http://smoking-tobacco.blogspot.com/2010/11/what-does-tobacco-smoke-contain.html