Be a Proud Quitter this No Smoking Day

Tower Hamlets Council and its partners across the NHS are encouraging residents to be a ‘proud quitter’ on No Smoking Day, Wednesday March 11.
This year’s national campaign is focusing on ex-smokers who share their reasons and motivations for quitting.
Stop smoking advisers will be seen across Tower Hamlets providing free and friendly advice, information and support on local stop smoking services for the month of March.
No Smoking Day is one of the UK’s biggest health awareness campaigns, run by the British Heart Foundation. The annual campaign helps smokers who want to quit by creating a supportive environment and highlighting the many sources of help and advice available.
Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman said: “Supporting residents to quit tobacco is a top priority of the council to improve the health and wellbeing of the local population. No Smoking Day provides a great opportunity to quit with thousands of others across the UK.”
Adult smoking rates have continued to reduce in the borough. From April 2013 – April 2014 more than 4,000 people signed up for support and advice which led to over 1,800 quits.
Cllr Abdul Asad, cabinet member for adults and health services said: “The council works closely in partnership not just on No Smoking Day, but all year round to provide residents with a wide range of ways that can help people quit tobacco tailored to the person’s needs.”
Dr Sam Everington, a local GP and chair of NHS Tower Hamlets Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do for your health. As soon as you quit, you start to reduce your risk of getting lung cancer, heart disease, stroke and other related illnesses.
“With the right attitude and support, you can be free of tobacco. Your local pharmacy, GP, or the NHS stop smoking service today all provide free and easy to access support.”
Dr Somen Banerjee, Director of Public Health at Tower Hamlets Council said “By quitting smoking you not only improve your health but those of people around you who would otherwise be exposed to the toxins and poisons in second hand smoke.”
Stop smoking advisers will be at the following locations throughout the month of March so you can drop by any time for a friendly chat and advice: