Hospital display set up to mark World No Tobacco Day

MEDICINE HAT – Alberta Health Services (AHS) is raising awareness about the negative impact tobacco has on people’s lung health during World No Tobacco Day (WNTD), observed annually on May 31.

Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of disease, disability and premature death in Alberta, causing more than 3,000 deaths each year across the province. Many more Albertans suffer from tobacco-related illnesses.

To help create further awareness, AHS staff will be sharing their messages with Albertans across the province during WNTD and hosting a number of activities with community partners.

At Medicine Hat Regional Hospital, a public education display will be set up from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, May 31. Members of the public are encouraged to drop by at their convenience and review information and services available to support people in cutting back or quitting smoking.

Media are invited to attend at 11 a.m. to interview the tobacco reduction counsellor in AHS South Zone.

AHS offers a variety of programs and services to help Albertans quit all forms of tobacco (including electronic), by telephone (1-866-710-QUIT), group cessation programs and one-on-one counselling. Online supports and resources are also available from www.albertaquits.ca to help Albertans double their chances of quitting. All supports are free of charge and available to all Albertans.

Established by the World Health Organization (WHO), World No Tobacco Day has been an annual observance on May 31 for more than 20 years. It aims to highlight the health risks associated with commercial tobacco use and advocates for effective policies to reduce commercial tobacco consumption.

Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.