TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Commission on Tobacco Control (Komnas Pengendalian Tembakau) launched an anti - cigarette campaign. In collaboration with city-owned bus operator PT Transjakarta, the tobacco control commission launched an anti-cigarette campaign entitled “Ngerokok Cuma Bakar Uang” or “Smoking Burns Money” on World No Tobacco Day 2017.

The anti-cigarette campaign containing adverse effects of smoking will be installed on Transjakarta buses.

Read: Jakarta Supports Anti - Tobacco Campaign on Transjakarta Bus

Tobacco Control Commission chairman Prijo Sidipratomo said that cigarette consumptions, particularly among poor population, have become a major burden for the country’s economy.

Based on a research conducted by the University of Indonesia’s Demographic Institute (LDUI), Prijo said that the cost of cigarette consumptions in poor families is 14 times as much the cost of beef consumptions, 11 times as much the cost of healthcare, and seven times as much as the tuition fee.

“It is unfortunate that the spending is prioritized for bad consumptions, instead of for consumptions that improve the quality of family members,” Prijo said at the Jakarta City Hall on Tuesday, June 6, 2017.

According to Prijo, the cigarette-prone group accounts for 11 percent of the total population or 28 million people. Prijo explained that cigarette actually prevents them from escaping poverty.
“In the long run, [cigarette] harms human resources because it causes actual addiction,” he added.

Transjakarta director Budi Kaliwono expressed his commitment to disseminating anti-cigarette messages to the public. Transjakarta has provided at least 21 buses to be installed with anti-cigarette messages.

“I believe that this message will be effective. I hope public will be aware of it so that the can focus on other things instead of burning money for cigarettes,” Budi added.

LARISSA HUDA