Respirologists declare war on cigarette ads

The Indonesian Society of Respirology launched its Year of the Lung 2010 public awareness campaign Thursday with an eye on eradicating cigarette advertising nationwide.

“We must urge the government to stop cigarette ads on television and to issue a regulation requiring that cigarette manufacturers print pictures of ‘smokers lung’ on cigarettes packages,” said Prof. Dr.  Faisal Yunus, the president of the Indonesian Society of Respirology.

“In 2008, as much as 67 percent of the male populace smoked, and the death toll for smokers stood at five million.”  

Smoking is the main cause of lung cancer, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) in Indonesia.
 
The Year of the Lung drive aims for people to live with clean and healthy air without cigarettes smoke and pollution. (rch/nvt)