Smokers across the Bradford district are being urged to quit smoking during the holy month of Ramadan. Muslims fast from dawn until dusk during the month and quitting smoking and tobacco use is included in the fast.
Bradford Council's Stop Smoking team are visiting mosques in the district to support Muslims to give up all forms of tobacco for the fifteenth year in a row.
Mosque leaders and Imams are being trained to share smoke free messages and become public health advocates within their communities.
It is part of a wider campaign to encourage people across Bradford to become smoke free and inspire a generation of non-smokers. The campaign includes visits to schools, community centres, children centres and work places.
There is also support for people who use chewing tobacco. Paan, Naswar and Ghutka users are exposed to an increased risk of developing oral cancer.
The project aims to educate communities about the effects second-hand smoke has on the whole family and follows success in Barkerend last year.
Joanne Nykol, Tobacco Lead for Bradford Council, said:
"Quitting smoking can be difficult the Bradford district stop smoking service is a free service available to support smokers and tobacco users to quit. This campaign will also help protect the rest of the family, particularly children, from the harmful effects of exposure to second hand smoke”.
"Second hand smoke in enclosed spaces can be a serious health risk for children, families can make a pledge to keep their homes and cars smoke free at this holy time”
Up to 5 million children across the UK are regularly exposed to second hand smoke at home. This results in over 300,000 GP visits and 9,500 hospital admissions for children each year.
It’s the 15th year Bradford’s stop smoking team has run a smoking cessation campaign during Ramadan.
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