Inuit anti-smoking programs funded by Ottawa

Expectant women and new mothers in Canada'sNorth who are trying to quit smoking could get help from their elders and community health workers under a $350,000 federal project.

Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq announced the funding on Monday, World No Tobacco Day, to bring theanti-smoking program to four Inuit regions across Canada.

The information campaign aims to:

• Train community health workers to deliver the program.
• Engage elders to monitor participating expectant women and new mothers.
• Raise awareness of the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.
• Increase the number of smoke-free homes in Inuit communities.

The recent Inuit child health survey suggested more than 80 per cent of Inuit women in Nunavut smoke during pregnancy, national Inuit leader Mary Simon of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami noted in a speech.

"This day is not about casting judgment on smokers," Simon said on the ITK website. "It is about providing the tools that Inuit need to take control of their health and their lives."

Blue light signals smoke-free home

When a pregnant woman smokes, the fetus gets less oxygen and nutrients. Smoking during pregnancy is a known risk factor for other health problems for the baby, including low birth weight and respiratory problems.

In a second project called theBlue Light Campaign, families will get a blue light bulb to install on their porch to signal the family has committed to smoking outdoors or to quitting altogether.

Both programs have been successfully implemented in several Nunatsiavut and Nunavik communities, and will now be extended to other communities, Simon said.

According to Statistics Canada, 58 per cent of Inuit adults surveyed between October 2006 and March 2007 smoked every day, compared with 17 per cent among all adults in Canada.

This year's theme of the World Health Organization's awareness day is "gender and tobacco, with an emphasis on marketing to women."

As part of its anti-smoking efforts, the European Union signalled Monday it may soon require cigarette packages to show graphic photos of diseased organs and carry larger health warnings.

Almost 40 nations currently require or will soon require photos showing the harmful effects of smoking on tobacco packaging.