MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Medical Association (PMA) and the National Social Action Council (NASAC) yesterday urged President Benigno S. Aquino III to set a strong example among the people by quitting smoking and supporting local anti-smoking activities.

The PMA, the Civil Service Commission (CSC), and officials of a multi-sectoral anti-tobacco committee recently banded together in a strategic planning session that tackled activities that will pave the way for a successful implementation of the various articles of the World Health Organization-Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC).

The Philippines was one of the 172 countries that signed the WHO-FCTC on February 25, 2005, the first international treaty in response to the worldwide tobacco epidemic.

“The President of the Republic, as the father of this nation, has the duty to safeguard the health and wellness of Filipinos most especially the youth,” Dr. Oscar D. Tinio, PMA President and NASAC Chairman said in a statement.

“Smoking is a major crime against a person’s body and therefore a clear and present danger to the health of our people,” he added.

According to the World Lung Foundation (WLF) and the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), exposure to second hand smoke “may be responsible for up to twenty percent of heart attacks in Metro Manila.”

“The calculations showed that the percentage of heart attacks attributable to second hand smoke in Metro Manila probably ranges between 10 percent and 20 percent depending on the hours of exposure per week,” PMA said.

According to the study, if one’s average exposure in Metro Manila is one to seven hours per week, the total attributable number of heart attacks would be approximately ten percent. If the average number of hours of exposure is more than 21 hours per week, the number of second hand smoke-related heart attacks would be more than 20 percent.

In the statement, PMA cited information from the US Department of Health and human services who said that children exposed to second-hand smoke are at an increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), acute respiratory infections, ear problems, and more severe asthma. Smoking by parents causes respiratory symptoms and slows lung growth in their children.

To emphasize the ills of smoking and discourage the public from the habit, PMA and NASAC will embark on a nationwide, city-to-city smoke-free, crime-free Philippines motorcades and fun run sessions that will begin today at the PMA auditorium in North Avenue, Quezon City to Mandaluyong City Hall.

It is set to begin at 6 a.m. and will end with a covenant signing with Mandaluyong City Mayor Benjamin Abalos Jr.

The anti-smoking sport events will culminate in May during the PMA Annual Convention in Davao City.