Cigarettes, Gate Ruin Nation

If the government does not control the sale of cigarettes in Indonesia, the Indonesian people will never be apart from the vicious cycle that further impoverish them. Currently in Indonesia there are more than 60 million smokers and 70 percent of whom come from middle to lower economic groups.

"There is a vicious circle between smoking-poverty-and ignorance-malautrisi. The children also become victims. Smoking is the gate of the destruction of the nation," said former Health Minister Prof. Farid Anfasa Moeloek at the launch of a book entitled Tobacco: Global Threats in Jakarta, Tuesday ( 30 / 6).

The book is translated from the works of John Crofton and David Simpson was edited by Hasan Muherman, lung specialists. John Crofton is the tutors of Muherman Hasan for 20 years for efforts to combat tuberculosis.

Cigarette consumption in Indonesia is now ranked the third world, after China and India. Initially Indonesia number five. No wonder more than 60 million people spend their money to buy cigarettes. They spend an average of 11 cigarettes per day.

Nationally, monthly elanja for cigarette smokers in the family ranks second largest (9 percent) after rice (12 percent).

Even more alarming, of the National Economic and Social Survey (SUSENAS) 2006, the group proved to have a proportion of poor families spending more cigarettes (12 percent) than the richest group of only 7 percent.

More concrete data showed that monthly cigarette expenditure on poor families in 2006 equivalent to 15 times the cost of education and nine times the cost of healthcare. Compared with berhgizi food expenditures, the amount equivalent to 17 times the expenditure to buy the meat, twice to buy fish and five times more to buy milk and eggs, said Tulus Abadi, a member of the Board Daily Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI).

Survey in 1999-2003 on more than 175,000 poor families in urban areas in Indonesia showed that three of the four heads of households (78.8 percent) were active smokers. Weekly shopping to buy cigarettes was ranked highest (22 percent), much larger than for the expenditure of staple foods rice that only 19 percent, while spending only three percent for eggs and fish, only four percent.

Smoking behavior of household heads is closely linked to malnutrition, ie the prevalence of children is very thin, low weight, and very short children. Shopping cigarettes has shifted the need for nutritious food for growth and development of toddlers.

Similar study in 2000-2003 on more than 360,000 poor households in urban and rural areas proved, and under-five infant mortality was higher in families whose parents smoke than non-smokers, said Tulus Abadi.

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Need Intention to Smoke-Free from Bondage

Initially just try to eventually become addicted. That was the beginning of a novice smokers become regular smokers experience even nicotine addiction. Most smokers rather not know the dangers of smoking, but to a total stop to those not as easy as turning the palm of the hand.

Quitting smoking is a process, so it takes time. According dr.Tribowo Ginting, Sp.KJ, from RS.Persahabatan Jakarta, there are several stages through which smokers who want to quit, ie prakontemplasi stage, contemplation, preparation, action, and the last stage of Ruwatan (maintenance).

"At that stage prakontemplasi usually smokers still refuse to quit," he said. Therefore you should not force smokers to quit because it is not effective. "Intention to stop must come from smokers themselves," he said. When this stage has been passed, it would be easier to pass through the next stage.

When the process of quitting smoking, there is a change experienced by smokers due to nicotine break. Symptoms include tobacco addiction, irritability and anger, anxiety, restlessness, impaired concentration, headache, drowsiness, and gastrointestinal disorders.

"The nature of addiction nicotine receptors in the brain is made to feel happy for a moment and then addicted to nicotine," said Bowo. However, these symptoms will stop after one or two weeks. During this period the support and encouragement from people around is necessary.

"Appreciate their efforts to quit, provide a time when smokers need support, not judge, or do a small celebration because smokers have quit," the doctor said during the launch program Bowo Quitters Are the Champions in Jakarta (26 / 6).

In addition the family can also help give the facts, whether bad or good if the smoker indecisive and want to smoke again. Friends or family can do is encourage smokers perform activities preoccupation or distraction.

According Bowo, the cause of failure is at most the association. "Therefore if it is to quit smoking, you should stay away from his friends who still smoke," he said.

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Smokers Third Hand, Who He?

You must be aware that cigarette smoke not only leaves but also distinctive odor that for those who do not smoke very unpleasant. This odor comes from the materials around us, such as clothes, hair, sheets, etc., or taped to absorb smoke billowing smoke.

Experts warn against the danger that is not visible from the smoker "third hand" is. Because the chemicals from cigarette smoke in these objects are also to be toxic (poisonous). Especially in children when they touch or insert objects into his mouth earlier.

To minimize exposure to chemicals from cigarettes, open the window wide, use air conditioning or fan. Of course the important thing is smoking in another room. Before approaching the kids, wash hands or change clothing worn while smoking.

As long as you can still smell the aroma of tobacco, even if you do not see the cigarette, this means you are still inhaling toxins, which contains 60 kinds of carcinogens (cancer-triggering).

Make homes smoke free to protect children or people who do not smoke at home.

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Stop Smoking So Fat?

Most smokers already know about the dangers of smoking and want to quit. One of the concerns of the cigarette addicts, particularly women, having to stop the bad habit is the body which will become fat. False myths that often makes the smoker to quit guts were half-hearted.

How indeed? "In medicine, it is not true if you quit smoking and then the body so fat," said dr.Ahmad Hudoyo, Sp.P (K). "The truth at certain hours of hunger increased, but because we are smoking pleasure of smoking it makes us prefer a cigarette than eat," he explained.

Similar disclosed by doctors Tribowo T. Ginting, Sp.KJ of RS.Persahabatan, Jakarta. He said the nicotine contained in cigarettes eliminate hunger, so when I stopped smoking it off hunger suppressant and people wanted to eat. "People who quit smoking can be fixed or weight actually increased, depending on his diet," he said.

Hunger experienced by smokers at the beginning of the process of smoking cessation can be overcome by diverting the mind or keep myself busy on other things. In the majority of smokers who quit do exist weight gain 50-10 pounds, but still within normal limits. During balanced with a healthy diet and exercise, weight loss can be maintained.

During the process of smoking cessation, smokers usually will experience withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms are a sign of where the body was taking care of herself. Usually the body will feel nervous, dizziness, vomiting, depressed, or unable to sleep. However, these symptoms will stop after one or two weeks. So, no more reason to remain in the bondage of cigarette smoke.

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Prohibition of Smoking, Still Half A Heart

In a corner of a mall at the Semanggi area, on Tuesday (30 / 6), some people seemed to relax. Room door was wide open when three out of five people who are in the tiny room look smoking cigarettes.

Cigarette smoke flew everywhere fills the entire room earlier. They seemed to not care if there is cigarette smoke that comes out of the room.

Although the outdoor smoking area, a lot of signs smoking ban, but the mall visitors had felt "entitled". They are allowed to smoke only in the smoking area. In fact, signs ban on smoking was much violated. Some people looked calmly and casually smoke in the air-conditioned cafe in the mall.

Jakarta Residents Forum (Fact) had conducted research in 60 malls in Jakarta, which said that 50 percent of the mall to do a serious violation of Local Rule No. 2 of 2005 on Air Pollution Control (Perda PPU). Likewise, the survey results Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) at government agencies in Jakarta.

"The survey results YLKI at 110 government offices in Jakarta said, most precisely within infringement of civil servants by 45 percent," said Tulus Abadi, YLKI member, while speaking at the launch of the book Tobacco: The Global Threat of Media Center in Jakarta, Jalan Kebon Sirih, Central Jakarta, Tuesday (30 / 6).

Sincerely declare, without smoking areas, especially in Jakarta, which became a pioneer for other regions in Indonesia, still adhered to the 'old paradigm' because they still provide smoking areas or smoking rooms in workplaces or other public spaces, like malls. "In reality, smoking area is actually used for the promotion of cigarettes," Sincere said.

Sincere reminder, manager of the building in Jakarta should be responsible for enforcing no-smoking area (KDM) in their respective environments. "When the manager did not carry out their duties properly, there is an administrative sanction is revocation of operating licenses," Sincere said.

Although regulation PPU's been four years running, in fact there are still many people in Jakarta who smoked carelessly in public places. Facts noted, the behavior of smoke in the area KDM is still prevalent. Clouds of smoke still adorn the public areas. Sincere added, though many people who smoke in public places, none of the offenses criminalized.

In accordance with the law which had horrendous PPU, the fines for people caught smoking in public places of Rp 50 million. Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo on the anniversary of World No Tobacco Day or World No Tobacco Day, May 31, 2009, expressed a commitment to implement the KDM in the working area.

"The move was questionable or just a moment of World No Tobacco Day alone. To enforce the rules about smoking ban, the Governor of DKI Jakarta can still make laws about the region without a cigarette is more comprehensive," explains Sincere

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Smoking Causes Vaginal Bacterial Infection

Still not believing that smoking can damage every cell in your body? Here is one of the bad news for women who love to smoke. Women smokers more likely to get bacterial infections of the vagina two times greater than women who never smoked. Bacterial vaginal infections (bacterial vaginosis) is a common infection that occurs, but less widely discussed. Symptoms of bacterial vaginosis (BV) include itching in the vagina, and gray-colored discharge coming out of the vagina with a fishy odor.

Marijane A Krohn, Ph.D., a professor of reproduction at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine says, BV began to attack the vagina when the natural protection system is impaired. When this happens, the bacteria are always around the vagina is growing out of control. "Smoking appears to make the vaginal immune system decline," said Krohn gave illustrations, such as border policeman who was drunk.

As with other vaginal infections, BV is not treated can increase the risk of sexually transmitted diseases. Not only that, when you are exposed to sexually transmitted diseases, plus exposed to BV, the consequences are worse, for example, infertility. When pregnant exposed to BV could also trigger sudden miscarriage, premature birth, or make babies born underweight.

The solution? Quitting smoking is the best gift you can give to your own body. Talk to your doctor about ways to stop smoking. Whether it's with a particular program or with other assistance. The second step, spray washer avoid sex because the vagina is actually capable of cleaning themselves. Vaginal sex with a spray washer can damage the climate balance in the vaginal area, and increase the risk of BV. When BV attack, you may need two weeks of treatment with antibiotics prescribed by doctors to handle it, and do routine checks once a month.

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People Not Care Smoking Dangers

Syamsuir, residents Downstream Dam, Central Jakarta, now can not talk anymore. The reason, he had cancer of the vocal cords. Why? Not because he was a heavy smoker for 30 years. One day three packs of cigarettes he sulut.
Syamsuir worked as a repairman hours. Modest income. So, for the smoking habit he barely spends most of his income. The result? Now there is a hole in his neck of the former operation has ever lived. And the more he regret: his voice disappeared.
Syamsuir is one of the millions of victims of smoking. In Indonesia, 70 percent of the 60 million smokers are those who come from middle to lower economic groups. That is, already poor, are still caught smoking habits that drain the contents of the bag.
Not to mention the approximately 65.6 million women and 43 million children in Indonesia who are exposed to cigarette smoke. They are also vulnerable to passive smoking and various diseases affected by smoking, ie, bronchitis, lung, colon cancer, liver cancer, stroke, and various other diseases.
Each year about 200,000 deaths in Indonesia due to smoking. A total of 25 000 victims were passive smokers. It is a direct result of smoking will not appear immediately. The impact of new look after 25 years since someone first smoke.
Demographic Institute senior researcher Faculty of Economics, University of Indonesia, Sri Moertiningsih Adioetomo, once declared, a study found that the cost of inpatient smoking-related disease sufferers reached Rp 2.9 trillion per year.
Indonesia was great in terms of cigarette consumption. Imagine, now Indonesia occupied the third position in the world after China and India for the affairs of cigarette consumption. Government of Indonesia's lack of political will to deal with tobacco issues seriously.
Just imagine, Road Map for Cigarette Industry precisely target the addition of cigarette consumption. In 2005, cigarette consumption in Indonesia reached 220 billion cigarettes. On the Road Map for Cigarette Industry in 2015 targeted cigarette consumption increased to 260 billion sticks.
Target 10 years increased by 40 billion cigarettes. A total of 40 billion cigarettes consumed 10 million smokers. That is, within 10 years 10 million new smokers are recruited. It could be said in one year targeted one million new smokers, or 249 new smokers per day, said Setyo Budiantoro of Tobacco Control Support Center Public Health Association of Indonesia (TCSC-IAKMI).
Who are the new smokers? Of course the teens. No wonder tobacco industry did not hesitate to throw big money for advertising expenditure. Good advertising on television and on billboards streets. Ranging from teenage music concerts to sporting events.
Images on packs of cigarettes
Retaliate against the tobacco industry to advertise the dangers of smoking clearly impossible. If you want to save the nation, especially the younger generation, the most reasonable and most likely do is to control the tobacco industry and apply the rules contained in the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
One way is to put up pictures of diseases caused by smoking on cigarette packs. Not just a small warning smokers and almost negligible because there is no deterrent effect.
Pictorial warning or warnings with graphic images on cigarette packs fairly effective. Effective because it reaches all the layers, there is a repetitive effect as it would be 5800-7000 times per year by smokers who smoked a pack a day.
In addition, the government also does not need to pay, the picture was clear, strong, and large, more than a million warnings in words, words Widyastuti Soerojo of TCSC-IAKMI.
Warning the pictures shown to be effective in some countries, like Canada as much as 44 percent of smokers want to quit, 58 percent of smokers start thinking about the dangers of cigarette consumption, 35 percent of smokers increased knowledge of the dangers of cigarettes, and 17 percent of smokers hide the wrapper because it does not want others to see the image commemoration.
In Singapore, 47 percent of smokers to smoke less, 57 percent of smokers start thinking about health impacts, 71 percent of smokers increased their knowledge, 25 percent of smokers motivated to quit, 28 percent of smokers reduce the number of cigarettes smoked, 14 percent of smokers do not smoke in front of children children, 12 percent of smokers do not smoke in front of pregnant women, and 8 percent of smokers to reduce smoking when at home.
In Thailand, 92 percent of smokers want to quit smoking, 62 percent of smokers to reduce smoking, 20 percent of smokers try to quit smoking, and 25 percent of smokers continue to smoke the same amount.
In Brazil, 54 percent of smokers to change attitudes about the effects of smoking after seeing the pictures on cigarette packs and 67 percent of smokers want to quit smoking. Greater impact on low income groups and education.
Disturbingly, Indonesia's cigarette production is exported to foreign countries, like Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Brunei, has plastered images of diseases caused by smoking. However, the same cigarette circulating in Indonesia without plastered pictures of diseases caused by smoking.
That could mean, the tobacco industry to the government obey the neighboring country. If so, why not apply the same rules for packs of cigarettes that circulate in Indonesia? There is no reason not to implement the provisions of international operators.
At first it's hard, but the Hong Kong government finally succeeded in implementing international rules, said Dr. Homer of Tobacco Control Legislation in Hong Kong.
Reflecting the experience of neighboring countries, the Government of Indonesia it was time to start repaying implement international rules on control of tobacco. At least, by putting warnings on cigarette packs with pictures.

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