No Tobacco Day marked in Thailand

BANGKOK, June 1 (TNA) -- Activities are held across Thailand to mark the "World No Tobacco Day" with the theme Tobacco Breaks Hearts to raise awareness on the bad habit that causes cardiovascular diseases. As the World Health Organization’s World No Tobacco Day falls on the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, mosques and Islamic organizations in the Muslim-majority Songkhla province launch anti-smoking campaign urging Muslims to stop smoking permanently. A mosque in Hat Yai district urges Muslims to quit smoking saying Ramadan fasting is a good time to quit. Over 1,200 school pupils at a school in Yala province clad in white joined a morning exercise. A giant cigarette was torched in a symbolic gesture against smoking. Anti-smoking campaigners joined a march at Buriram Hospital to send out message to the public about the threats of cigarettes to their health. Action on Smoking and Health Foundation says smoking leads to about 50,000 deaths in the country each year and results in economic loss to Thailand which has almost 11 million smokers. (TNA)