A Smoking Cessation Programme for Bermuda is being set up by the Ministry of Health.

Qualified individuals and businesses are asked to come forward to help design and deliver the project, Health Minister Nelson Bascome said yesterday.

Eight percent of the Island's residents smoke, according to the 2006 Health Survey — a reduction from 17 percent in 2001.

It is hoped that figure could be further cut since the Bermuda Tobacco Control Action Plan increased tax so that a pack of 20 cigarettes now costs $8.

Smoking is a major cause of death and disease from coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, lung and other cancers and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Further, smoking during pregnancy is associated with adverse outcomes such as low birth weight babies, premature deliveries, spontaneous abortions, stillbirths and neonatal deaths.

Studies show the most effective smoking cessation programmes combine regulatory efforts, economic approaches, education strategies, clinical intervention and management programmes.

Qualified persons and or businesses who are interested in helping the Ministry deliver a Smoking Cessation Programme should get the tender document from the Department of Health web page on www.gov.bm.