Page 19 - TAIWAN TOBACCO CONTROL ANNUAL REPORT 2019

By 2018, a total of 4.37 million Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act inspections had been carried out in 680,000 locations all over the country. There have been 7,469 disciplinary citations issued and fines totaling over NT$ 119.45 million had been imposed. In addition, 422 smoke cessation classes with 5,441 participants and 6,594 educational activities on tobacco control had been organized. 149,143 individuals received smoke cessation education and counseling services provided by communities and pharmacies. There were 78 smoke cessation training courses with 5,067 participants organized for medical and paramedical personnel. ◎ Kaohsiung Lingya District Community Quiting Smoking Class Reducing Health Inequalities Studies have revealed that health inequalities do exist among different regions and ethnic groups. Tobacco, alcohol, and betel quid use are key risk factors that give rise to many forms of associated diseases and death. Preventing tobacco, alcohol, and betel quid hazards and transforming health damaging behaviors among underprivileged people are key intervention measures necessary for reducing health inequality. To reduce the health inequality, HPA has subsidized 7 counties and cities (Taitung County, Pingtung Country, Hualien County, Tainan City, Keelung City, Yunlin County and Nantou County) with a high prevalence that smoke as well as consume alcohol, betel quid associated with high incidence and mortality of lung cancer, esophageal cancer, oral cancer, to implement the medium-term objectives of "Tobacco, Alcohol and Betel Quid Prevention Integrated Project" in a 5-year period session and for a 10-year objective since 2012. Adult smoking rates have dropped significantly in subsidized cities and counties (in Hualien and Tainan City, decreased from 22.9% in 2011 to 15.9% in 2018 and 15.4% in 2011 to 11.8% in 2018, respectively). In 2018, 217 smoking, alcohol, and betel nut-free areas were created through subsidies for 8 cities and counties (New Taipei, Keelung, Yilan, Nantou, Yunlin, Pingtung, Taitung, and Hualien) and 1,140 educational activities on smoking, alcohol, and betel nut prevention with 71,546 participants have been organized. 30 educational training courses with 750 participants were offered for high-risk groups and 48 courses with 1,686 participants were organized to raise awareness of dangers associated with smoking, alcohol, and betel nuts and train health education volunteers. 86 classes with 4,639 17 Reducing the Demand for Tobacco