(KPL) Luang Prabang district, the world heritage town of Laos, announced yesterday that it is a smoking free area.
The Ministry of Public Health in cooperation with Luang Prabang province, World Health Organisation, The Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance or SEATCA and Adventist Development and Relief Agency International (ADRA) has organised activities under theme “smoking free environment” to mark the No-Smoking Day.
The event was attended by Luang Prabang residents, senior officials and NGOs staff, including Mr. Kongchanh Khammavong, Luang Prabang Front for National Construction.
Luang Prabang district, the province of the same name, has been selected a place for the celebration of the No-Smoking Day since the district has announced its determination to prohibit smoking in workplace and other public sites, including hospitals, schools, temples and museum or even at toilets in these buildings.
The activities have reflected adverse effects of smoking and smoking-caused diseases, and include walk for life, droppings of vitamin A and anti-parasite tablets for 1-5 years old children.
The limitation was approved on 24 May, discussed on a directive document related to the implementation and determination of smoking-free areas. Many adverse effects caused by smoking and breathing of cigarette smoke, which caused to diseases and die in young age has been highlighted at the workshop.
The meeting has limited the prohibited smoking areas inside and outside of official buildings, including hospitals, schools, temples and museum or even at toilets in these buildings.
The limit of outside buildings, the authorities concerned or building owners can classify and define smoking areas. These include official and private offices. Hotels, schools, guesthouse, restaurants and entertainment places. The sites are limited for prohibited smoking, including markets, public parks, tourism sites, buses, other stations such as airport and bus station.
The determination is to promote health of smokers and people as well as a safe campaign for smokers. It also create Luang Prabang world heritage town “jewelry town of tourists as flesh and clean air and to become as model for other world heritage towns in the region.
