Deputy Minister of Health Dante Saksono Targets 100% of Indonesian Regions to Have Smoke Free Areas!

Suara.com – In commemoration of World No Tobacco Day (HTTS) or World No Tobacco Day, Deputy Minister of Health Dante Saksono Harbuwono targets all Indonesian regions to have smoke free areas (KTR) until the end of 2023.

This target was set as a form of resistance to tobacco products which are a common enemy. Moreover, Indonesia is the third country with the most smokers in the world.

“Indonesia ranks third. It’s a shame how come Indonesia, like this, won the championship,” said Wamenkes Dante at the Ministry of Health’s Sujudi Building, Kuningan, South Jakarta, Thursday (8/6/2023).

Deputy Minister of Health Dante stated that the government was making various efforts so that smokers would stop smoking and the number of Indonesian smokers would not increase, including not giving birth to first-time smokers because they were exposed to cigarettes at a young age.

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This is why the target is for all regencies and cities in Indonesia to have smoke-free areas or KTR, which currently account for 86 percent of the total area.

“Currently there are 86 percent of regions that have KTR rules. We hope that in 2023, I just told the Director of Non-Communicable Diseases (PTM), later 100 percent of the target will be for all regions to have smoke-free areas,” said Wamenkes Dante.

Deputy Minister of Health Dante added that currently the younger generation, such as elementary, junior high, high school and tertiary students, want to be involved in tackling the dangers of smoking and preventing their peers from smoking.

This must also be accompanied by the government’s role in providing education and regulation to combat tobacco products that make users addicted.

“Strengthening educational activities on the dangers of tobacco through digital and educational media, we still have to improve the integration of tobacco education into the school curriculum, then strengthen tobacco regulations,” he added.

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The man who was also appointed Professor of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Indonesia admitted that Indonesia as one of the world’s tobacco producers is the reason for the high number of smokers in the country.

This is why within the framework of HTTS, the Ministry of Health also gives awards to farmers who are willing to change crops in their fields, into food fields such as vegetables and fruits.