Smoking rates drop by 10 percent
According to the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, in 2005-2010, the smoking rates (including episodic smoking) among the Ukrainian population above the age of 15 have dropped from 41 to 29 percent. This was stated by Kostiantyn Krasovsky, head of the tobacco control sector of the Ukrainian Institute of Strategic Studies under the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, reports IMC with a reference to the press service of “For a tobacco smoke-free Ukraine” Coalition of non-governmental organizations. “If we extrapolate this data, smoking in Ukraine will disappear in 25 years. Unfortunately, such an outcome is unlikely because international experience has shown that each new percent of quitters is more and more difficult to achieve,” noted Krasovsky. He said that the anti-smoking action did not receive the necessary state support of late. “Last year, the measures of the state target social program on reducing the impact of tobacco on the health of the population by 2012, under the Cabinet of Ministers, were not financed at all. The Cabinet of Ministers regulation on showing the consequences of smoking on cigarette packs is being blocked. The bill on a tobacco advertisement ban had been waiting for more than a year until it was considered in the first reading,” emphasized the official. However, if state authorities continue to support these measures on reducing the smoking rates, which have proved their effectiveness in other countries, the number of smokers in Ukraine will soon fall below 20 percent, opines Krasovsky. “For further progress, we need to establish help services for those who can’t quit smoking on their own,” he said. According to Krasovsky, the smoking rates in Great Britain in 1960-2008 was significantly reduced, from 50 to 21 percent, in the Netherlands — from 61 to 28 percent, in Australia — from 43 to 17 percent. However, “heavy smokers” who stick to their habit, are much harder to convince.
We will have our own “911”
President Viktor Yanukovych has entrusted Prime Minister Mykola Azarov with developing a single emergency telephone number (112) system, UNIAN relates the president’s press service’s press release. The 112 system will combine the functions that were previously performed by the 101, 102, 103, 104 and other emergency response services. As the press service emphasized, once the 112 system is launched, it will be our analog to the famous American 911 rescue service. One of the main advantages will be more efficient coordination of the efforts of rescue and emergency services in preventing and reacting to the emergency situations. It will be convenient for the citizens as well. It is emphasized in the note that in order to receive prompt and professional help in the case of an emergency, people will have to remember only one number — 112.
Ukraine and Belarus sign contract on oil transit via the Odesa-Brody pipeline
Ukrtransnafta and the Belarusian Oil Company (BNK) signed a two-year contract, with an option to prolong, guaranteeing transit of four million tons of oil a year via Ukraine’s oil transportation system, using the Odesa-Brody pipeline to transport the fuel to the Mozyr Refinery in Belarus. On Ukrtransnafta’s behalf, the contract was signed by the company’s CEO Oleksandr Lazorko, while the BNK was represented by its Deputy General Director Andrei Shishkov. Additionally, reporters were told by Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Ihor Kiriushyn that Ukraine was engaged in talks with the BNK on the possibility of pumping oil through the Odesa-Brody pipeline to the Drohobych refinery (Halychyna company, Lviv region) and the Nadvirna refinery (Naftokhimik Prykarpattia company, Ivano-Frankivsk region). After the signing ceremony, the Ukrainian Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Yurii Boiko noted that the agreements achieved with Belarus are profitable for Ukraine. “We are pleased with the work we’re getting started with,” he said, refraining from any specifics. He also said the contract between the BNK and Ukrtransnafta did not affect the interests of Russia regarding oil transit via Ukraine to Europe.
