Health Promotion Board Awards 10 Markets And Food Centres The Blue Ribbon For Their Efforts In Promoting A Smoke Free Environment

Singapore, 4 March 2012: For leading the way in creating a smoke-free environment, the Health Promotion Board (HPB) is awarding the Blue Ribbon to 10 markets and food centres across the island.

2. A symbol of the anti-tobacco movement, particularly the prevention of second-hand smoke, the Blue Ribbon initiative is part of the larger smoke-free movement that the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region has embarked on.

3. Recognising that a smoke-free environment effectively minimises public exposure to secondhand smoke, the WHO is encouraging countries to take on the Blue Ribbon campaign.

4. With HPB's launch of a local Blue Ribbon initiative, Singapore becomes the first country regionally to adopt this initiative on a nationwide scale.

5. The first 10 recipients of Singapore's Blue Ribbon are markets and food centres from all over the city-state, which are recognised for their commitment to create smoke-free environments.

6. Although all are allowed to have a smoking corner, these 10 markets and food centres voluntarily removed their demarcated smoking zones because they believe in the importance of tobacco control and the prevention of harmful second-hand or third-hand smoke. They are also convinced that being smoke-free will have little impact on their business. 

7. “While Singapore has one of the lowest smoking prevalence in the world, recent trends suggest a rise in the prevalence, although the vast majority of Singaporeans are non-smokers. This is why it is important to 'de-normalise' smoking by creating voluntary smoke-free environments to send the message that smoke-free living is the default lifestyle. A bottom-up approach engaging ordinary Singaporeans to step forward and promote tobacco-free living is one of the ways to build such smoke-free environments,” said Dr Amy Khor, Minister of State for Health.

8. “These 10 recipients of the Blue Ribbon award have led the way by being the first to support such a smoke-free movement. Several of them have also indicated that their support of this movement has not affected their business. HPB will continue to support them in their commitment to create smoke-free environments. In addition to providing signages, posters and banners to distinguish them as health promoting premises for Singaporeans keen to visit smoke-free markets and food centres, HPB's Health Ambassadors, who are trained to help smokers quit smoking, will also be deployed at various community touchpoints island-wide,” said Mr Ang Hak Seng, Chief Executive Officer, HPB.

9. HPB will work with more hawker centres and also coffee shops to encourage them to support the smoke-free movement. To complement this, HPB will, as part of a ground-up smoke-free advocacy project, train grassroots organisations and Health Ambassadors to work the ground at various neighbourhoods to promote a smoke-free lifestyle as well as voluntary no-smoking zones at void decks and common corridors.

10. To foster community solidarity in creating a smoke-free estate, these ambassadors will go door to door, handing out Blue Ribbons and quit kits, to support the Blue Ribbon smoke-free movement as well as help smokers quit.

11. The Blue Ribbon initiative is in line with Singapore's role as a regional thought leader in tobacco control, as Singapore prepares to host the 15th World Conference on Tobacco or Health (WCTOH) from 20 to 24 March this year. An iconic platform for the global pursuit of greater solidarity against tobacco use, WCTOH is where international experts and leaders congregate for debate as well as sharing of perspectives.

ANNEX A: List of Blue Ribbon award winners
ANNEX B: The 15th World Conference on Tobacco or Health (WCTOH)

Issued by Health Promotion Board

Media Release

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