Levon Altunyan: young generation starts smoking, paying tribute to  fashion

ArmInfo. Grandparents can continue to smoke and cough, but you need to do everything possible so that their grandchildren do not smoke and are healthy. Minister of Healthcare of Armenia Levon Altunyan stated this at a press conference on October 6 summing up the results of the annual activity of the Armenian Ministry of Health.

According to him, in no country in the world an anti-smoking campaign  can not be crowned with success without the support of society and  the media. "But the program has no alternative - there simply can not  be a second opinion, and the Ministry of Health will work with the  press as much as it will be necessary to bring to the society the  basic idea - if older people smoke, then they can continue this  occupation, but young people should not start smoking, "Altunyan  said.

The minister recalled that most of the budget allocated to the health  sector is directed to the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, in  the development of which an important role is played by smoking.

And all the blame, according to the head of the Ministry of Health -  fashion. As a rule, the younger generation, paying a tribute to  fashion, begins to smoke. That is why, in the fight against smoking,  the emphasis should be placed on the emotional side of the issue, so  that smoking ceases to be fashionable in Armenia.

Earlier, responding to the question of ArmInfo, Levon Altunyan stated  that within the framework of the Strategy for Combating Smoking for  2017-2020. According to the results of 2020, the reduction in the  number of smokers by 3-5% is expected in Armenia. According to him,  in particular, the following activities are planned: legislative  regulation of the process, in accordance with international norms,  which will result in restrictions on tobacco smoking in public places  and in premises, the terms of reference of the competent body  controlling the process, and the procedure for the circulation of  electronic cigarettes, clarified the concept of secondary smoke and  forced passive smokers, as well as a ban on advertising of tobacco  products. The Ministry of Health also plans activities aimed at  raising public awareness about the dangers of tobacco. Thus, the  expected results from the activities carried out within the framework  of the strategy for 2017-2020. in particular, the reduction in the  prevalence of tobacco use (by 1.5-2% per year), the relative decline  in the prevalence rate of tobacco use among men aged 15 and up to  10%, and the reduction of exposure to second-hand smoke.