MORE NO SMOKING AREAS WILL BE GAZETTED IN MALAYSIA

MELAKA (Malaysia), April 12 (Bernama) -- More no smoking areas will be
gazetted in view of the rising number of young smokers especially women,
Malaysian Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said.

Without mentioning numbers, he said the findings of a survey on smoking
habits by Putra University of Malaysia was cause for worry.

Liow said the details would be revealed by month end.
"This is serious as many women have the wrong impression that smoking is
good for slimming. It is just a ploy to get the young to smoke," he told
reporters after the national World Health Day opening by Melaka's Head of State
Mohd Khalil here Sunday.

He said smoking would expose women to high risk of getting chronic diseases
adding offenders could be fined up to RM1,000 (US$314) or jailed two years or
both.

On H1N1, he said pregnant women, heart, lung and diabetic patients should go
for free vaccination at 104 government clinics and hospitals nationwide.


"The government had bought 400,000 doses of H1N1 vaccines for frontdesk
staff like doctors, police, customs and immigration while the rest will be given
to the people for free."

Liow said close monitoring nationwide had prevented the country from a
second wave of H1N1.

Some 651 people had been treated with influenza like illness (ILI), 58 were
positive H1N1 and six were warded at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

-- BERNAMA



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