Adventist Development and Relief Agency Cambodia
a “Smoke Free Organization”.

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Cambodia has been working in tobacco or health efforts since 1994.  The ADRA TOH program has significantly contributed to the national struggle for recognition of the pending tobacco epidemic in Cambodia in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (National Center for Health Promotion), Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, Ministry of Cult and Religion, and Ministry of Defense, the World Health Organization and other national and international Tobacco or Health partners.  Strong interest and collaboration have come from the countrywide community, government, and the media partners in promoting Tobacco or Health as a key public health issue.  The Adventist Development and Relief Agency holds to the principle that community based efforts to raise awareness solidly contribute to both cessation as well as being effective tools for advocacy at national levels.   ADRA, the National Canter for Health Promotion, the World Health Organization and other partners have contributed to significant grassroots awareness and are building momentum with policy makers for approval and enforcement of crucial Tobacco Control law and regulation that are sustainable steps towards long term tobacco use reduction. 

To both ease enforcement of its offices as smoke free areas as well as to encourage other organizations to reap the same benefits, ADRA’s executive board has chosen to this year at the occasion of World No Tobacco Day to declare ADRA as a “Smoke Free Organization” which means:

All Employees are not allowed to use or promote the usage of tobacco products any time.

All properties, owned, rented, or under the authoritative management of ADRA Cambodia will not allow the usage of tobacco products in any form on the premises.

No ADRA sponsored staff, property or activities will promote tobacco use or the tobacco industry including the use of products that have tobacco advertising etc. on them (bags, hats, etc). 

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency Cambodia board chairman, Garth Anthony, who is also the President of the Cambodia Adventist Mission states that “The Seventh-Day Adventist Mission church fully supports ADRA’s leadership role in Declaring Smoke Free Zones in Cambodia.  We also applaud the way some major Buddhist temples have declared themselves smoke free.  It reveals some excellent leadership in those temples.  The Adventist church will declare all of their schools, orphanages, churches and hopefully every SDA home as smoke free zones, in fact we hope that this smoke free zone idea will be extended to the use of alcohol, narcotics and indeed any area of substance abuse.”

Seventh-day Adventists, who established ADRA, are committed to promoting a positive and healthy way of life that avoids smoking and the use of alcohol and other drugs. In 1959, Seventh-day Adventists were one of the first to have a stop smoking program which was originally called the "Five-Day Plan".  Stoy Proctor, health department representative of the Seventh-day Adventist Church has stated that, “We offer help to those already addicted to tobacco and provide preventative programs to help people to choose not to start.”  "The horrific toll on human health and life itself from smoking needs to be addressed in far more extensive and effective ways. We support all measures to end smoking use and addiction, and continue to work for a better quality of life by highlighting the benefits of a smoke-free lifestyle."

Therefore in its ongoing efforts to fulfill it mission, ADRA in connection with the World No Tobacco Day events in May 2006, will be having Smoke Free Organization Declaration Ceremonies  around the country starting from May 19th until the 31st as follows:

May 19, at its Toul Kork office in Phnom Penh
May 24, at its Rovieng District office In Preah Vihear province
May 28, at its Siem Reap town office in Siem Reap province
May 30, at its Kompong Thmar office in Kompong Thom province
May 31, at its Pursat office in Pursat province

At this special time – the Adventist Development and Relief Agency Cambodia and its tobacco control partners appeal to all organizations, businesses, government institutions and most of all to you and your household who wish to join with us in enjoying the benefits of a cleaner and healthier life – to today consider how you can work towards declaring your environment, your home and your workplace to be Smoke Free!!    Thank you.