In advance of this year’s No Smoking Day (Wednesday 10 March) campaign, the Council’s Health Improvement Worker has been out and about visiting local primary schools in a bid to warn pupils about the dangers of smoking.

P6 and P7 pupils at Gilford Primary School were amongst the first to learn about how smoking can seriously damage a person’s health. This educational project has been developed by the Closing the Gap initiative, which has received funding from the Public Health Agency.

“Research shows nearly 20% of 11 to 16-year-olds within the southern area smoke every day. Therefore, it’s important that we get the anti-smoking message across to primary school children,” commented Council Health Improvement Worker Alex McMeekin.

She added: “By relaying the shocking facts about the dangers of smoking to these young children, we hope to discourage them from taking up what is in fact a very costly habit not only in terms of the price of cigarettes but also in the potential associated health risks.”

Principal Doreen Armstrong added: “Promoting a healthy lifestyle to children is very much an integral part of the current curriculum. As a school, we aim to give our pupils’ the knowledge they need that will promote their health and well-being in later life. Early learning is central to achieving this goal – so we welcome the Council’s help in this area.”

Council Tobacco Control Officer Marissa Slevin is also accompanying the Health Improvement Worker on school visits. She is educating pupils about the smoking legislation that applies to Northern Ireland.

After covering a wide range of topics in the anti-smoking workshop, pupils took part in a quiz to test their new found knowledge on smoking. P7 pupil Cathy Gracey and P6 pupil Bradley Harper came top of the class and won free swimming passes for themselves and their family at Banbridge Leisure Centre.

Contact:
Health Improvement Worker
Banbridge District Council
T: 07500 772905.