Doctors to help enforce anti-smoking drive

MANILA, Philippines -  The Philippine Medical Association (PMA) will dispatch doctors to the streets tomorrow to assist the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in implementing the smoking ban in public places.

PMA president Dr. Oscar Tinio said the physicians will conduct “public education drive” and help explain to the public the ill-effects of smoking including stroke, cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and cancer.

“On July 1 we are sending our members to join the MMDA street enforcers in specific areas of Metro Manila not to apprehend violators of the smoking ban but to enlighten them on the perils of tobacco smoke against their fragile lives,” he said.

The 70,000-strong PMA will also distribute education materials. The group said they would also assist those who would seek professional help from various public and private smoking cessation centers in Metro Manila.

Tinio has called on all members to “do their part in supporting the MMDA by extending tangible and sustainable help to personnel tasked to implement the smoking ban.”

“Smoking kills people and numerous scientific studies worldwide prove this undeniable fact. The task of saving human lives from the clear and present danger of tobacco smoke should never be left to government alone,” he noted.

He added that it is “the duty of every Filipino to save and protect irreplaceable human lives and we in the private sector, most especially the doctors, must play an active role in any activity that seeks to curb or stop the deadly effects of tobacco smoke on our people.”

“We view smokers as victims of tobacco addiction who definitely need professional help. A person addicted to an abused substance is not in total control of himself and always is in a state of denial constantly seeking his fix for the day, whenever, wherever and whatever it may cost him.” Tinio added.