Smoke Free Organization Declaration Ceremony in ADRA Preah Vihear office

On May 24, 2006 the Adventist Development and Relief Agency Cambodia (ADRA) branch office in the Preah Viheah province held a ceremony to declare ADRA Cambodia to be Smoke-Free organization.  350 participants program included students, ADRA staff, government officers, police, Adventist church and community members gathered to march from the Chan Nimit pagoda to the ADRA office, over 2 kilometers.  The parade walked through Rovieng town including the main market area.  Many people along the street welcomed the marchers.  Some of them stood and watched while others even joined the march.  

At the ADRA office, Mr. Choub Kimsan, vice chief of the Rovieng District, Dr. Yel Daravuth representative of WHO and Mr. Sin Satha, representative of ADRA Cambodia Administration and a health Operational District authority spoke to the crowd.

On behalf of the government, the vice chief of the district gave strong support to ADRA at the Smoke-Free declaration ceremony.  He encouraged all participants to spread this information to their families, public and communities to follow the role model of ADRA leadership (deciding to declare itself smoke free) to declare themselves as Smoke Free families and communities. 

On behalf of WHO, Dr. Yel Daravuth was very happy to see the ADRA board’s decision to declare ADRA as a Smoke Free organization. He also shared how cigarette use has many disadvantages as it kills nearly 5 million smokers annual due to diseases related to tobacco use.