As part of the fight to reduce tobacco use due to its high health risks, Mijas is shining because of the stand they’ve taken. Mijas, a small town in the Andalusia municipality and Malaga province, is known for its picturesque and narrow streets. On may 31st, which is also World No Tobacco Day, Mijas plans to take a firm step to observe this day. In partnership with the Spanish Cancer Association, Mijas is going to create smoke-free zones while also educating residents on the dangers of tobacco use.
The town hall of Mijas now has several activities in its planning that are specifically designated to highlight the major health issues caused by tobacco. Establishing smoke-free areas at important and touristy locations around the town is one of the activities. These locations are example, near shopping centres, by the donkey sculpture of Las Lagunas, around tourist zones and municipal offices, etc. These areas will help non-smokers avoid the harmful effects of secondhand smoke. Smokers will have to search other places where smoking is alright and not around crowded places. According to the councillor for health, Marco Cortés, Mijas town hall chose these spots intentionally.
smoke-free zones
These areas are not only popular for tourists but they also experience high foot traffic. Therefore, by establishing smoke-free zones in those areas, it will lessen harmful exposure to smoke. Moreover, this action also raise awareness about the impact of tobacco use. The AECC’s recent report shows that 21% of the Andalucia population are smokers. When it comes to age, people aged 45 to 54 years have a higher prevalence in the results. Which shows that such an initiative is a must to underline the importance of smoking awareness. Overall, it also helps promote public health and the image of Andalucia.
Besides these activities, the town hall also created an anti-vaping campaign as a contest for local schoolers. The reason they chose school pupils is mainly because vaping is increasingly popular among teenagers. The use of vaping between the ages of 14 and 18 has seen a concerning surge from 40.8% to 47.3%. Gender-wise, vaping among girls has increased from 36.4% to 52.3%. Furthermore, Mijas is to host a walk to again help raise awareness on the side effects of tobacco use.