Paju Unjeong Health Center Selected as Excellent Institution at 'Smoking Cessation Project Performance Competition' and Awarded Governor's Commendation

On the 4th, the Unjeong Public Health Center in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, announced on the 5th that it was selected as an excellent institution at the Community Smoking Cessation Project Performance Competition hosted by Gyeonggi Province and received a commendation from the Governor of Gyeonggi Province.

Paju Unjeong Health Center was selected as an outstanding institution at the Community Smoking Cessation Project Performance Contest hosted by Gyeonggi Province on the 4th and received a commendation from the Governor of Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Paju City

The ‘Gyeonggi Province Community Smoking Cessation Project Evaluation’ assesses indicators related to the overall community smoking cessation projects targeting 31 city and county public health centers in Gyeonggi Province to select outstanding institutions. This year, three local governments in Gyeonggi Province, including Paju City, were selected as excellent local governments.

Paju City worked hard throughout the year to foster a community smoking cessation culture. To improve accessibility to smoking cessation clinics, it enabled registration for smoking cessation clinics through non-face-to-face methods. Additionally, it operated a ‘Visiting Health Promotion Center’ targeting multi-family housing to actively support smokers’ success in quitting smoking and health management. Furthermore, it led efforts to spread the smoking cessation culture by running smoking prevention performances and educational programs for infants and adolescents.

Efforts to prevent secondhand smoke damage also continued. The city conducted guidance and enforcement through smoking cessation officers focusing on areas with frequent smoking complaints, and in buildings with many related complaints, designated building managers as guardians of no-smoking zones to foster a smoke-free environment. Moreover, it received positive evaluations for securing the health rights of non-smokers and promoting a proper smoking culture by collaborating with local police stations, youth guidance committees, and others to carry out joint campaigns to prevent secondhand smoke.

Lee Hansang, director of the Paju Public Health Center, said, “To create a proper smoking cessation environment, active smoking cessation support for smokers and proper smoking prevention education are important,” and added, “We will take the lead in creating a healthy urban environment through diverse and proactive activities.”