The fourth edition of the anti-smoking campaign 'Together Towards a New Breath' (EVUNS) will take place throughout May in Wallonia, aligning with the Tobacco-Free Week in Brussels, organisers stated on Wednesday.
This initiative, part of the 'Plan Wallon Sans Tabac' (PWST), focuses on tobacco prevention and management.
This year, the campaign will highlight the dangers of passive smoking, in line with the ban on smoking within 10 metres of schools, healthcare centres, sports grounds, and other public places from 1 January 2025.
Unlike other campaigns, EVUNS takes a gradual approach tailored to individual journeys, encouraging smokers and vapers to commit to long-term change at their own pace.
The campaign aims to raise awareness of available information and resources, promoting reflection and change in tobacco consumption, and emphasising the benefits of quitting.
In 2022, 24% of Belgians reported smoking daily or occasionally, according to a survey conducted by the Foundation Against Cancer (la Fondation contre le cancer). Smoking was also more far common in Brussels (36%) than in Flanders (21%) and Wallonia (27%).
Although tobacco use is declining, the reduction is uneven across socio-economic levels, exacerbating health inequalities: 29% of poorer Belgians said they smoked in the same survey.
Prevention efforts must focus on young people and support individuals wishing to quit, especially targeting vulnerable groups.
