yosi break

“Hoy, mahiya ka. Umagang-umaga yosi kaagad,” ang walang pakundangang singhal ng Ate ng bumaba ako mula sa kwarto upang mag-agahan.

“Malamig kasi,” ang palusot ko.

“Eh di magkape!” ang sumbat ng Ate. “Sa kasisigarilyo mo bukas makalawa wala ka ng baga!”

“Si Ate naman, over,” biro ko. “May baga pa naman.”

“May baga nga, butas-butas naman. Anong silbi nun!”

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While studying for Community and Family Medicine (CFM) a classmate and I were discussing how difficult it is to sustain interest in a health program. Initially, the programs seem to go well with enough support from hospitals, health practitioners and the community. Eventually the interest and support dies down. Sustainability seems to be a bigger problem than actually getting a program off the ground. (Yes, I don’t know what I’m talking about.)

In particular we talked about anti-smoking campaigns.

Republic Act No. 9211 or The Tobacco Regulations Act of 2003 prohibits smoking in public places and public transportation. It also regulates tobacco sales, advertisements and distribution. Around the time the bill came out the then junior medical students taking up CFM came up with a project to support it. There were stickers and flyers distributed to the students and the staff; posters were everywhere. I remember one banner quite clearly. It depicted a man on a horse riding towards the sunset ala Marlboro Country. He was alone presumably because his cigarette-smoking buddy had already succumbed to lung cancer.

Another campaign I remember fondly is Yosi Kadiri which was launched by the Department of Health in 1994. Considered one of the more successful campaigns its aim was to lower the prevalence of smoking among the youth in the age 7 to 19 bracket. I kind of miss seeing the Yosi Kadiri mascot now.

Antifaust has written several times about the hazards of smoking. Recently I came across an old entry from newleaf (another blogger who incidentally is also a medical student), sharing a cartoon about smoking. Although based on U.S. statistics it does put things in perspective.

My dad is a chain smoker so it is no wonder I tried smoking before. I never was a heavy smoker but the bad habit did last for a few years. I’m glad I quit. I still think I’m at risk for the detrimental effects of smoking though. Most of the occupants in my apartment building are smokers. I’m quite surprised they’re not smoking up a storm especially since it’s the finals week. Or maybe I have gotten used to the smell that I don’t notice it anymore. Oh well.

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Naiintindihan ko: kanya-kanyang buhay, kanya-kanyang baga. Pero ngayon para sa akin: