World Smokefree Day marks countdown for Taranaki hospital sites

29 May 2012

Taranaki DHB is celebrating World Smokefree Day this year with a wish come true.

The day marks the official countdown until February 1st 2013 when all hospital sites will be smokefree.

Thursday, 31 May, marks World Smokefree Day, an international event created by the World Health Organisation to support and celebrate smokefree lives. This years theme ‘Quit now.‘Its about whanau’ is about taking control and doing something now. Its about supporting and encouraging smokers to make a quit attempt.

“This is a huge milestone for the DHB which is contributing toward the achievement of our goal of becoming Smokefree Aotearoa by 2025,” said Smokefree/Auahi Kore Coordinator, Karmin Erueti-Thatcher.

“The change for staff, patients and visitors is that we will no longer have designated smoking areas on our sites,” said Mrs Erueti-Thatcher.

“We have eight months to support our staff and help patients and visitors to prepare for the change”.

Taranaki DHB offers free Nicotine replacement therapy to all employees who want to stop smoking and provides patients and visitors with advice and support to make a quit attempt.

Ms Erueti-Thatcher says, “Using subsidised patches, gum, lozenges and a specialised Cessation Support Service doubles your chances of quitting”.

Taranaki DHB Public health unit will be at the Huatoki Plaza, or the Hawera Town Square between 11.30am and 1.30pm for World Smokefree Day celebrations including free quit services and NRT advice, free health checks, lots of giveaways and free soup!

For those wanting local face-to-face support contact your GP, Midwife, or our local Aukati KaiPaipa service providers by visiting www.aukatikaipaipa.co.nz or phone Quitline on 0800 778 778.

Media are invited to attend a celebratory afternoon tea at Taranaki Base Hospital at
3pm Thursday to start the official countdown to becoming 100% Smokefree. Please let me know if you can attend

For more information please call
Sue Carrington
Media Adviser
Ph 021 367 789

Last updated: Thursday, July 11, 2019