Research: 18,000 smokers in S. Kalimantan are 5-9 years old
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 01/25/2011
A South Kalimantan Health Agency survey has revealed that around 18,000 children aged between 5 to 9 years old are active smokers, as quoted by Antara state news agency.
The shocking data was revealed by the head of the South Kalimantan Health Agency, Rosihan Adhani, on Tuesday, while drafting a Regional Regulation (Perda) on the establishment of smoke-free zones (KTR) in Banjarmasin.
KTRs will be established around places of worship, healthcare facilities, schools, playgrounds, workplaces and public transportation facilities.
According to Rosihan, the amount of juvenile smokers in the South Kalimantan province significantly increases every year. Approximately 30.5 percent of South Kalimantan’s population are smokers –close to the national rate of 34.7 percent.
The research reveals that 30.5 percent of the 3.6 million people living in South Kalimantan are smokers. Approximately 41.3 percent of the smokers are between 15 and 19 years of age. Those aged between 10 and 14 years old accounts for 17.5 percent of the total, and about 18.000 – or 1.7 percent – are within the age group of 5-9 years old.
The KTRs are intended to prevent non-smokers and young adults from being exposed to cigarette smoke, as passive smokers not only face health risks associated with second-hand smoke but it also sets a negative example for children and young adults who might end up smoking “out of curiosity”.
“Our main goals are to reduce tobacco-related diseases and/or deaths and to increase the air quality in South Kalimantan,” Rosihan said. “But we also hope the KTRs could reduce the prevalence of juvenile smoking, and hopefully increase workplace efficiency, as non-smokers are generally healthier and do not take ‘smoking breaks’ as smokers do.”
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