La Laguna promueve la sensibilización sobre el tabaquismo con la ‘I Carrera Lagunera Sin Tabaco’
The City Council of La Laguna presented today the ‘I Carrera Lagunera Sin Tabaco’, an initiative aimed at the entire population with the goal of raising awareness about the risks of smoking and promoting healthy lifestyle habits. The race will take place on May 31, coinciding with World No Tobacco Day.
The presentation event, held at the Sala de los Capitanes, was attended by the Councilor for Education, Youth, and delegate of the OMIC, Sergio Eiroa; the Councilor for Sports, Badel Albelo; the Councilor for Health and Environment, Domingo Galván; the deputy medical director of the Primary Care Management of Tenerife, Berta Anta, and the head of the Tobacco Prevention and Control Program of the General Directorate of Public Health of the Canary Islands Health Service, Antonio Torres Lana.
According to data from the Health Survey of the Canary Islands, there are 375,000 smokers in the Canary Islands, representing a prevalence of 19.9 percent of the population over 16 years old in the Canary Islands, a percentage that has decreased by six points since 2015. However, since 2015, the number of former smokers has increased from 15.6 percent to 21.7 percent, reaching 408,000 people who have quit smoking. Likewise, the prevalence of people who have never smoked in the youngest age group (15-29 years) has increased to 77.7 percent.
Sergio Eiroa emphasized that «educating is also about bringing our young people closer to their environment, helping them understand their city, and teaching them values that will accompany them throughout their lives. At the OMIC, we advocate for a practical education that connects with their daily lives and motivates them to be responsible consumers.»
On his part, Badel Albelo pointed out that «from the Autonomous Sports Organization, we wanted to join as a collaborating entity in this initiative because one of our permanent objectives is to promote sports practice and healthy lifestyle habits. This non-competitive race is designed for anyone, regardless of age or physical condition, to participate and join this collective message against smoking. Therefore, from a cross-cutting perspective, we understood that it was essential to support and raise visibility for this proposal that combines health and sports for the benefit of the entire population.»
Domingo Galván stressed that «tobacco consumption not only affects people’s health, it is one of the main causes of death in the Canary Islands, but also the environment. Cigarette butts are one of the main sources of pollution in our streets and natural spaces. With this initiative, we aim to promote a cleaner and healthier environment for everyone.»
On her part, the deputy medical director of the Primary Care Management of Tenerife, Berta Anta, highlighted the role of Primary Care professionals in the education and prevention of smoking and in smoking cessation. She also emphasized these types of initiatives to build «spaces for health and well-being» and the collaboration between the participating institutions and entities in this event, where she valued the involvement of professionals from health centers in the municipality’s basic health zones in the planned workshops.
Finally, Antonio Torres Lana explained that «smoking continues to be one of the main preventable causes of death in the Canary Islands as well. Initiatives like this race are essential to raise awareness among the population about the risks of smoking and to promote a culture of prevention from an early age.»
The head of the Tobacco Prevention and Control Program of the General Directorate of Public Health of the SCS recalled that this activity is part of the celebration of World No Tobacco Day, a reminder «that tobacco is responsible for a large number of diseases, many of them fatal, and in other cases, smoking worsens the prognosis of existing diseases.» He also stressed that «there is no safe way to consume tobacco products, the only healthy option is not to consume them» and, in this line, he pointed out that new products, such as e-cigarettes or heated tobacco devices, have not proven to be safe in any case.
The ‘I Carrera Lagunera Sin Tabaco’ will start on May 31 at 11:00 a.m. from Plaza del Cristo and will end at Plaza de la Concepción, where the Health Fair will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This space will become a meeting point for the population, with a program of free activities focused on raising awareness and well-being. During the day, specific workshops on health and smoking prevention will be held, information will be provided through various stands of collaborating entities, and areas with children’s activities will be set up, including face painting, traditional games, and educational dynamics. The fair will also feature music, live entertainment, and a family-friendly atmosphere that invites enjoyment and sharing, as well as a refreshment area with water and fruit for all participants.
Registrations to participate in the race are open until May 30 through the portal www.deportelagunero.com.
