Ripas tightens up no-smoking rules

RIPAS Hospital yesterday established an enforcement unit aimed at tackling one of its most persistent and longest-running problems: smokers puffing away in no-smoking areas on its premises.

Comprising officers, staff as well as security guards, Ripas' Anti-Tobacco Action Team (ATAT) will monitor, control, accost, report, take action against and prevent the public from smoking on the hospital's premises, said ATAT member Pg Hj Yakop Pg Hj Ahmad.

"Sometimes there are those who don't take notice of no-smoking signs, and this has been going on for years. Now with the Order in place, we are happy to be able to enforce the law," he said. "In the past, we would have security guards come across members of the public smoking at waiting areas and outside the wards. When the guards try to stop them, they say things like, 'What, is this your father's hospital?' They can be very rude sometimes. But if people act and talk like that now, we can take action against them," he said.

Upon sight of smoking in restricted areas, ATAT officials will ask the smoker to step out of the hospital's premises. A Public Health Officer will be notified in case the smoker refuses to leave. Police assistance may be requested if the smoker causes further trouble, said Pg Hj Yakop, who has been working at the hospital as a nurse for 10 years.

Yesterday, 21 ATAT officers were presented with special vests to indicate their identities as enforcement officers by the Health Minister during the World No Tobacco Day celebrations at the hospital's outpatients area.

The Brunei Times