Government of Canada Announces Project That Will Help Pregnant Women Quit Smoking

News Release
2010-12
January 20, 2010
For immediate release

VANCOUVER - Nina Grewal, Member of Parliament for Fleetwood - Port Kells, today announced on behalf of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, just over $245,000 in funding to the British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women's Health for a project that will help encourage tobacco cessation among pregnant women.

"The Government of Canada remains committed to protecting all Canadians from the proven health hazards associated with tobacco use," said Minister Aglukkaq. "Today's funding will give health professionals the tools to help pregnant women stop smoking."

Funding from today's announcement will go towards a project entitled "Knowledge translation on Smoking Reduction and Cessation Interventions for Pregnant and Postpartum Girls and Women." The goal of this project is to provide evidence of effective approaches and develop practical tools for health professionals to help pregnant women and new mothers to quit smoking.

"This funding demonstrates the federal government's commitment to working with stakeholders on evidence-based cessation and smoking prevention activities," said MP Nina Grewal. "Supporting this initiative helps ensure that Canada remains a world leader in all aspects of tobacco control."

This year, National Non-Smoking Week is taking place from January 17-23. It is a week devoted to preventing people from beginning to smoke and helping smokers quit. The theme this year "Quitting is contagious; pass it on!" recognizes that it is easier to quit smoking with the support of others.

"Researchers in Canada and around the globe are making significant contributions to our understanding of smoking reduction, cessation and relapse in pregnancy and the postpartum period," said Nancy Poole, Director, BC Centre of Excellence for Women's Health. "This project will put the latest research in the hands of health care practitioners, women who smoke, and health system planners."

Tobacco use is the single biggest cause of preventable disease, disability and premature death in Canada. It has negative effects on nearly every organ of the body. Every year, at least 37,000 Canadians die from the effects of smoking, while many others are diagnosed with related illnesses such as heart disease, lung cancer and other respiratory diseases.

For more information on Health Canada's tobacco control efforts, please visit: www.gosmokefree.gc.ca.

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Media Enquiries:
Josee Bellemare
Office of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq
Federal Minister of Health
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Health Canada
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