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Brunei launches mobile app to discourage smoking

Xinhua, June 5, 2015 Adjust font size:

Brunei's Ministry of Health has launched a quit-smoking mobile phone application, which is aimed at helping smokers stop smoking and making Brunei "a Tobacco-Free Nation," the state-run Radio Television Brunei (RTB) reported on Thursday.

The ministry hopes that the launch of the application, "Healthy Without Cigarettes," would further raise public awareness, especially among youth, on the dangers of smoking.

Health Minister BY Pehin Dato Hj Adanan said it is the ministry 's real hope to help Brunei become a tobacco-free nation, as tobacco is known to be one of the risk factors that causes diseases such as cancer, chronic respiratory problems, and cardiovascular disease.

The minister expressed the hope that with the application, the public can interact with health officials for information on the dangers of smoking and on the procedures for a stop smoking plan.

The health ministry has also set up "Stop-Smoking" Clinics at all its health centers throughout the country. The minister urged smokers who aspires to quit smoking, to effectively stop smoking, as this can save their lives, their families and the community.

In 2007, Brunei began implementing new rules to discourage smoking by banning cigarette advertisements and restricting smoking in public places. Offenders face a fine from 300 Brunei dollars (225 U.S. dollars) to 1,000 Brunei dollars (749 U.S. dollars). Since 2013, there have been no licensed cigarette importers in the country. Endi