A NEW campaign has been launched by Limerick City and County Council and Healthy Limerick to promote a Tobacco-Free society and encourage those who smoke to get help to quit.
Launched last Friday, to coincide with World No Tobacco Day, ‘Not Around Us’ is about promoting an environment where it is easier for those who smoke to quit and remain smoke-free and helping to de-normalise smoking for the next generation.
The campaign is considered another step towards a tobacco free Limerick and is about supporting Chapter 7 of Tobacco Free Ireland: denormalisation of smoking and protection of children and young people.
Limerick City and County Council is leading this initiative in partnership with a range of stakeholders including HSE, Limerick Comhairle na nÓg, Limerick Children and Young People’s Services Committee, Limerick Childcare Committee, Healthy Ireland and ASH Ireland, Council of the Irish Heart Foundation.
The purpose of ‘Not Around Us’ is to help protect children and young people from second hand smoke exposure as well as contributing to the denormalisation of smoking for children and young people.
“Limerick City and County Council is delighted to be fulfilling our commitment to Healthy Ireland. We are working with a range of public and community organisations as well as schools and early years services across Limerick to protect the health and wellbeing not only of our children, but also of our older citizens of the future,” said Mayor of Limerick, Cllr James Collins.
“Limerick City and County Council is leading the way by upgrading the signage in support of Tobacco Free Ireland in all its own playgrounds. We are inviting schools, early years services and not for profit organisations in Limerick to display the same Not Around Us signage in outside places and spaces where children and young people are likely to be. Subject to funding and availability, the professionally designed and produced signage is available free of charge to eligible groups and organisations.”
Tobacco Free Limerick will help ensure the children of Limerick see and experience a positive healthy environment as the norm.
Quitting smoking can be difficult. For support contact HSE quit services on quit.ie or our free national QUIT helpline 1800 201 203.
