The Ministry of Health has announced the winner of the creativity contest it launched in June 2015 as part of its new anti-smoking campaign 'Tous Gagnants', launched to encourage the 96,000 Luxembourg smokers towards a healthier lifestyle.
The contest, which involved inventing a phrase beginning 'A gagner...' ('To win...') followed by a benefit of stopping smoking, was won by Emile Muller for '...Freedom!'. The design will be displayed this month at selected places in Luxembourg.
The Ministry of Health also reported that fewer and fewer people are now smoking in Luxembourg, with a 2014 survey from TNS ILRES and Fondation Cancer finding that the smoking population was reduced from 33% to 21% between 2003 and 2015.
However, despite declining numbers, smoking is still the leading cause of premature deaths in developed countries such as Luxembourg. Every years around 1,000 people die in the Grand Duchy from smoking-related cnsequences, according to a 2014 report from the Health Directorate, with the shortened life expectancy of smokers mainly due to the marked increase in risk of cancer and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
55% of smokers in Luxembourg have stated that they would like to quit the habit, with 19% intending to curb their consumption. This indicates that out of the 96,000 smokers in the Grand Duchy, 53,000 are searching for a solution to their nicotine dependence.
"A consequence of stopping smoking is a reduction of the risk of diseases and adds 7-10 years to a life," explained Minister of Health, Lydia Mustch. "Already in the first three months after quitting smoking, lung function is improved. This can be felt in everyday life, for example when climbing stairs or playing sports - and should be an incentive for staying smoke-free in the long-term".
For those looking to quit smoking, more informationcan be found on the National Health Portal www.sante.lu/arreter-fumer.
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