Monica Bodden Reporting
The presence of so many school children at today's launching of the smoke free spaces may have seemed unusual, but according to the statistics, use of cigarettes by young people is on the rise - as are tobacco related diseases generally.

Dr. Jorge Polanco, DDHS - Ministry of Health
"Surprisingly the students age 13-15 they have reflected that they are smokers and this is a concern because of their age. If they don't not stop smoking 10-15 to 30 years from now as adults they will definitely succumb to the diseases caused by smoking."

Ms. Lorrain Thompson, Tech Advisor - PAHO/WHO
"In Belize we estimate that 37% of deaths each year is directly from cancers and other tobacco related diseases. As we heard this morning approximately 10.2% of adults 20 years and over, that is information we got from a survey we did in 1996 and that tells us that 10.2% of adults are current smokers and them when it comes to students 13-15 years the percentage is even higher is 18.3% who currently used some sort of tobacco products at the time when the survey was taken."

And while smokers endanger themselves, second hand smoke is also a risk, and that's why the smoke free spaces are seen as a critical public health initiative:

Ms. Lorrain Thompson, Tech Advisor - PAHO/WHO
"For places to be designated as smoke free, they must be free of tobacco smoke. For instance that would set up a smoke free area and an area where you can smoke and we are saying that is not acceptable, because you know that smoke from smoking area is going to move to the non-smoking area and people will inhale that smoke."

Dr. Jorge Polanco, DDHS - Ministry of Health
"Well the truth is that second hand smoking is as deadly as if you are the one putting the cigarette to your lips. That smoke that is exhale by any smoker has the same contents as the smoke that she or he inhales so then the ill effects are identical exactly the same and the ill effects are affect from head to foot, they affect well of course the lungs which is one of the major organs with higher frequency to suffer cancer because it's really cancer."

Hon. Pablo Marin, Minister of Health
"The prohibition of smoking within government buildings, the prohibition of smoking in private business where the public accesses services for example; lobbies of bank, hotels, restaurants must indicate smoking and non-smoking areas, the prohibition of smoking in all primary, secondary and tertiary learning institutions whether public church-state or privately manage, the prohibition of smoking in public transportation including all terminals, public display of non-smoking signs in areas where smoking is prohibited. Public awareness and education activities to promote this initiative."

And while the introduction of the policy is a progressive move - it is regrettably at this time, also toothless - a well meaning suggestion:…

Andrea Polanco
"So Minister you said at this time that it is just a policy and so can Belize expect certain regulations put in place to enforce these measures?"

Hon. Pablo Marin, Minister of Health
"Sure, we would need to legislate it and like what we are saying we have to see exactly the effect on the people. We can never just come and throw things to the public, we first have to sensitize them and that is what we are doing right now with this policy."

Andrea Polanco
"So you are sensitizing them. How long do you expect that will actually be enforce with regards to the law?"

Hon. Pablo Marin, Minister of Health
"Well I don't think it will take a long while. I cannot say it will be next month but we are trying our best for us to legislate as fast as we can."

And while the legislation lags, these children completely got the message:

Ms. Lorrain Thompson, Tech Advisor - PAHO/WHO
"For youth many of diseases cause by tobacco you seem far away and we heard that again in the skit, since they are not common among young people because those things they are insidious gradual diseases they don't attack you once you start smoking today. It's going to affect years down the road."

Courtenay Arana Wesley Upper
"I learn that tobacco can really affect your health and it can cause death."

Kiara Middleton
"I have to say stop smoking it can lead to a quick death at a young age and it can be bad for you."

Student
"I learn that smoking gives you lung cancer and it makes your breathe smells bad."

The launch was followed by a tobacco-sensitization fair with the participation from the Cancer Society, Bureau of Standards, and several primary schools.