“It seemed “manly or grown-up” when I would watch my grandpa smoke,” recalled Mr. Okirua Apera of Rarotonga, Cook Islands. Okirua Apera was around 18 when he started smoking. Like so many young men and women, peer pressure had a big influence on why he started smoking in the first place. After 35 years of smoking, Okirua attributed his family’s encouragement and sky-rocketing tobacco prices, on his decision to quit.
Supporting people to quit: Creating a supportive environment
The Cook Islands Ministry of Health has made great strides with efforts to decrease the number of new smokers and to increase the number of smokers who quit. After participating in a WHO workshop on tobacco taxation, in 2012, the Cook Islands implemented a tax law which increased taxes on tobacco products over multiple years, which makes tobacco less affordable. Anticipating that the large increase in tobacco prices would encourage smokers to quit, the Ministry of Health, Te Marae Ora, with support from the World Health Organization, trained Cook Islands health professionals as cessation counsellors and launched a free smoking cessation program in 2013.
Quitting tobacco: The motivating factors
After his wife calculated that his pack-a-day habit was costing the family nearly NZD 600 per month, she and their children once again advocated for Okirua to kick his harmful habit. Around this time, he had seen an advertisement in the newspaper from the Ministry of Health about the free tobacco cessation services available. “That’s when I knew I had to try and quit,” Okirua recounted.
In May 2014, Okirua met with Mr. Tearoroangi Aitu, the men’s health coordinator and one of 11 trained tobacco cessation counsellors in Cook Islands. To address his addiction to nicotine, Okirua was prescribed nicotine replacement therapy in the combination patch and gum form. In addition to the formal counselling sessions, Okirua said Tearorangi’s follow-up and encouragement helped to keep him on track and motivated to stay quit. “My family was encouraging me at home, but it was nice when Tearorangi would see me in town and ask how I was doing and if I was having any challenges,” said Okirua.
He still applies the behavioural tips he learned from counselling such as modifying his routine, being active and keeping busy at work. When Okirua is under stress, he turns to nicotine replacement gum to prevent him from relapse.
“I feel lighter, healthier since I quit,” he shared. His wife says he is snoring less and his family is celebrating his success not only for the health benefits, but the cost savings has enabled them to plan a family holiday for later this year.
His advice to smokers? Okirua declared, “Take it from me, it’s worth it to quit! Your family is happier, you are healthier, and you can save a lot of money!”