By Belize Live News Staff: The Belize Cancer Society is going after tobacco use, and it is starting with young people.
The Society has partnered with the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, the leading international advocacy organisation working on tobacco control, to push for stronger measures across Belize.
Youth engagement sits at the heart of the plan. The idea is that young people carry real influence with their peers, in their families, at school and in their communities, and that turning them into advocates does more than any poster campaign could.
The reasoning behind the effort is straightforward. Tobacco is a major risk factor for several cancers, along with heart and respiratory disease, and most people who smoke start young.
The partnership will also fund local research to build the evidence base for policy advocacy in Belize, rather than relying on figures from elsewhere.
The Society is calling on young people, schools, community organisations, policymakers and parents to join the movement.
“Together, we can lead change, protect our communities, and build a healthier future for Belize.”
What would actually get young Belizeans to say no to tobacco?
