Council commended for its efforts to smoking cessation

Debbie Keys of Coleraine Borough Council, delivered the best practice presentation which illustrated the efforts of Council during National No Smoking Day 2009.

She made the presentation at the No Smoking Briefing Day for March 2010, held at the end of 2009, where she also picked up the award.

Each year Council’s Environmental Health Department delivers a range of activities to promote National No Smoking Day. In 2009, Council delivered a two-pronged initiative that included programmes to change behaviour by encouraging smokers to set quit dates and targets. Council also co-ordinated an educational project to inform young people of the dangers of smoking and to discourage the uptake of smoking.

Debbie Keys, Health and Well Being Officer at Coleraine Borough Council was delighted with the acknowledgment, she said: “We increased our activities in 2009 by targeting primary schools and secondary school through art competitions and by visiting workplaces, community groups and public spaces.

“Our aim was to cover all angles of the public.

“We encouraged smokers to think about the health implications and advised them how they could quit; we also provided signposting information to the interested smokers who felt they needed extra support.

“Council also had an encouraging and positive response from all the schools that entered into our competitions. Schools are very keen to embrace and participate in any health promotions activities that Council initiate because they know that it makes their pupils more aware of their health and well being.”