Anti-Smoking Push is Faith-Based Initiative

Publication Date: 2005-03-20

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• Publication:WISH-TV Channel 8 (Indianapolis, IN)

A new program aims to get more people to stop smoking.

The National African American Tobacco Education Network (NAATEN) unveiled a program called "Be Free Indeed." It's a series of tool-kits being distributed to local churches, focusing on tobacco prevention in the community.

The program's director spoke at Eastern Star Church on East 30th Street Tuesday morning. "It is a significant day, because we know over 45,000 African Americans die in this country, more than any other ethnic group, from a preventable, and I'll say that again, a preventable smoking related disease. That's 45,000 vital community members, our mother, our father, our sisters, our brothers, community leaders and congregational members," said Ayanna Kiburi, NAATEN.