Asian Human Services' Press Conference on Tobacco Control (May 18, 2011)

"Asian Americans Aim To Be Tobacco Free" Press Conference

On the morning of May 18th, community leaders and health officials gathered in the beautiful rotunda of the Bridgeview Bank Building to raise awareness of the epidemic tobacco use among Asian American communities in Chicago and across Illinois. The press conference was organized by the Asian Human Services' Community Health Program as part of two parallel anti-tobacco programs, the Chicago based Smoke Free Today, Healthy Tomorrow Project and the state-wide Ready to Call, Ready to Quit Project.

Notable speakers included:
• Abha Pandya, CEO, Asian Human Services
• Rod Lew, M.P.H., Founding Executive Director, Asian Pacific Partners for Empowerment, Advocacy and Leadership (APPEAL)
• Bechara Choucair, M.D., Commissioner, Chicago Department of Public Health
• Joe Africk, President & CEO, Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago
• Jerome Richardson, Ph.D., Deputy Director, Illinois Department of Public Health
• Michael Mark, BS, RRT, RN, Vice President of Helpline Services, American Lung Association of Greater Chicago
• Jing Zhang, Ph.D., Director, AHS Community Health Programs

In addition to highlighting the scope and scale of tobacco use among Asian Americans, the speakers addressed such issues as the continuing problem with menthol and new tobacco products, the Partnership for a Tobacco-Free Chicago Coalition, new Illinois Tobacco Quitline Initiative outreach strategies, Nicotine Replacement Strategies, and the Chicago Tobacco Prevention Project.

Footage from KBC-TV, WOCH Channel 41
Article written by Chris Rowe, AmeriCorps
Translation by JeongSun Kim

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Asian
• American
• Tobacco
• Prevention
• Cessation
• Chicago