Shared commitment to protect our babies

A declaration of commitment to a smokefree start to life for every child

Hope

Smokechange is on a mission to bring a smokefree start to life closer to every child. It is the single purpose of our organisation. We may be a small team, but we have strong networks and committed partners working with us. We believe that protecting a child is everyone’s business, a whole community responsibility. We are gearing up to extend and strengthen our networks, involve people beyond health and engage more families in smokefree change.

Facts

Fact 1: Exposure to smoking in pregnancy is the number one cause of preventable harm to New Zealand children, especially in infancy, undermining 15,000 newborns a year. It hides like a coward behind pregnancy complications and loss, prematurity and early infant death, frequent and serious illness throughout childhood, learning and social challenges. Smoke-exposed babies develop in sub-optimal environments and are forced to adapt in ways that undermine their health, development and survival. The legacy of harm follows children into adulthood and burdens families, health budgets and our future.

Fact 2: Smoking in pregnancy can be changed[1]. The more intensive the intervention, the greater the smokefree success. While Smokechange offers a four-fold increased chance of a smokefree pregnancy, only 500 Canterbury women a year are referred. There are 1000 women and their babies missing out. Fairness means everyone has access to effective support to be smokefree.

Solidarity

Building alliances[2] is a key action for achieving health and social equality. We, at Smokechange are building a strong network of individuals, practices and organisations willing to stand together, work together and act with urgency to build a smokefree start to life for every child. We invite you / your organisation to be part of this network and to declare a commitment to action, as appropriate to you or your service, agency or business, for protecting Canterbury babies.

Commitment

I / we know that smoking in pregnancy is the main cause of preventable harm to children

I / we accept that changing this requires systematic action by health teams, easy access to support for families and an expectation across our communities of a smokefree start to life for every child

I / we commit to the following action or actions in support of a smokefree start to life for every Canterbury child

 a) Individuals:                             Promoting smokefree pregnancies as the norm for every child

         b) Health teams:                        Systematic action (i.e. ABC best practice[3]) and high referring rates

         c) Community Agencies:          Promoting smokefree pregnancies as the norm for every child

 d) Businesses:                          Promoting Smokechange support to smoking pregnant staff


Please click here to sign up to become a partner

  For more information please feel free to contact us.

 [1] Lumley J, Oliver SS, Chamberlain C, Oakley L. Interventions for promoting smoking cessation during pregnancy. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2004, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD001055. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001055.pub2.