Latest news with #PAVAC
The Sun
21-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
PAVAC intensifies efforts to promote lung health through NLHI
KUALA LUMPUR: Parents Against Vape and Cigarette Kuala Lumpur (PAVAC) is stepping up efforts to support the National Lung Health Initiative (NLHI) by raising awareness and promoting respiratory health education among Malaysians. PAVAC founder Rashdan Rashid said the initiative focuses on two key groups - students and parents, through advocacy and educational programmes conducted in schools, higher learning institutions, and local communities. 'These programmes adopt a sustainable and preventive approach, incorporating healthy lifestyle education alongside arts, sports, and environmental activities to make the message more engaging for young people. 'We want the public to understand the importance of lung health, as respiratory illnesses are now affecting not just the elderly but also children as young as those in primary school,' he said on Bernama Radio's Jendela Fikir programme today. Rashdan said PAVAC also provides a platform for parents to participate as community volunteers, supported by experts from Universiti Malaya and Universiti Putra Malaysia. This is in line with the Malaysian Education Blueprint 2013–2025, which emphasises holistic child development. Rashdan explained that the NLHI, introduced by the Ministry of Health (MOH), aims to empower Malaysians through prevention, education, and early detection of respiratory diseases. 'Established last year under the Malaysian Drug Prevention Association (Pemadam), PAVAC not only focuses on drug prevention education but also helps promote NLHI's objectives. 'What sets NLHI apart is its comprehensive strategy. It goes beyond awareness by incorporating artificial intelligence (AI), active community participation, and strong public policy support,' he said. A major upcoming event under NLHI is the National Tobacco Control Conference 2025, to be held from May 30 to June 1 at Universiti Cyberjaya in conjunction with World No Tobacco Day on May 31. 'Highlights of the three-day conference include the launch of the official NLHI mascot and NLHI Community Health Fund, the signing of memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with strategic partners, and the Green Lung NLHI campaign, which aims to plant one million trees,' he added. Rashdan added that the NLHI will be featured at the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78) currently taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, from May 19 for nine days. At the assembly's opening session, three Malaysian representatives received the World No Tobacco Day 2025 Award from the World Health Organisation (WHO) for the Western Pacific Region. The recipients were Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, MOH deputy director of Disease Control Dr Noraryana Hassan, and president of the Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control, Associate Professor Dr Murallitharan Munisamy. 'These awards recognise their key role in developing and implementing the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), which strengthens regulations on tobacco and vape products in Malaysia,' he said. Rashdan, who also heads the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tasek Permai in Ampang, proposed that the MOH's Non-Communicable Disease Control Division work with parents nationwide through Pemadam to further promote NLHI.
The Sun
21-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
PAVAC steps up initiatives to advance lung health via NLHI
KUALA LUMPUR: Parents Against Vape and Cigarette Kuala Lumpur (PAVAC) is stepping up efforts to support the National Lung Health Initiative (NLHI) by raising awareness and promoting respiratory health education among Malaysians. PAVAC founder Rashdan Rashid said the initiative focuses on two key groups - students and parents, through advocacy and educational programmes conducted in schools, higher learning institutions, and local communities. 'These programmes adopt a sustainable and preventive approach, incorporating healthy lifestyle education alongside arts, sports, and environmental activities to make the message more engaging for young people. 'We want the public to understand the importance of lung health, as respiratory illnesses are now affecting not just the elderly but also children as young as those in primary school,' he said on Bernama Radio's Jendela Fikir programme today. Rashdan said PAVAC also provides a platform for parents to participate as community volunteers, supported by experts from Universiti Malaya and Universiti Putra Malaysia. This is in line with the Malaysian Education Blueprint 2013–2025, which emphasises holistic child development. Rashdan explained that the NLHI, introduced by the Ministry of Health (MOH), aims to empower Malaysians through prevention, education, and early detection of respiratory diseases. 'Established last year under the Malaysian Drug Prevention Association (Pemadam), PAVAC not only focuses on drug prevention education but also helps promote NLHI's objectives. 'What sets NLHI apart is its comprehensive strategy. It goes beyond awareness by incorporating artificial intelligence (AI), active community participation, and strong public policy support,' he said. A major upcoming event under NLHI is the National Tobacco Control Conference 2025, to be held from May 30 to June 1 at Universiti Cyberjaya in conjunction with World No Tobacco Day on May 31. 'Highlights of the three-day conference include the launch of the official NLHI mascot and NLHI Community Health Fund, the signing of memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with strategic partners, and the Green Lung NLHI campaign, which aims to plant one million trees,' he added. Rashdan added that the NLHI will be featured at the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78) currently taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, from May 19 for nine days. At the assembly's opening session, three Malaysian representatives received the World No Tobacco Day 2025 Award from the World Health Organisation (WHO) for the Western Pacific Region. The recipients were Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, MOH deputy director of Disease Control Dr Noraryana Hassan, and president of the Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control, Associate Professor Dr Murallitharan Munisamy. 'These awards recognise their key role in developing and implementing the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), which strengthens regulations on tobacco and vape products in Malaysia,' he said. Rashdan, who also heads the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tasek Permai in Ampang, proposed that the MOH's Non-Communicable Disease Control Division work with parents nationwide through Pemadam to further promote NLHI. 'This collaboration will help streamline public communication efforts and encourage nationwide support for the initiative,' he said.
Barnama
21-05-2025
- Health
- Barnama
PAVAC Intensifies Efforts To Promote Lung Health Through NLHI
KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 (Bernama) -- Parents Against Vape and Cigarette Kuala Lumpur (PAVAC) is stepping up efforts to support the National Lung Health Initiative (NLHI) by raising awareness and promoting respiratory health education among Malaysians. PAVAC founder Rashdan Rashid said the initiative focuses on two key groups - students and parents, through advocacy and educational programmes conducted in schools, higher learning institutions, and local communities. 'These programmes adopt a sustainable and preventive approach, incorporating healthy lifestyle education alongside arts, sports, and environmental activities to make the message more engaging for young people. 'We want the public to understand the importance of lung health, as respiratory illnesses are now affecting not just the elderly but also children as young as those in primary school,' he said on Bernama Radio's Jendela Fikir programme today. Rashdan said PAVAC also provides a platform for parents to participate as community volunteers, supported by experts from Universiti Malaya and Universiti Putra Malaysia. This is in line with the Malaysian Education Blueprint 2013–2025, which emphasises holistic child development. Rashdan explained that the NLHI, introduced by the Ministry of Health (MOH), aims to empower Malaysians through prevention, education, and early detection of respiratory diseases. 'Established last year under the Malaysian Drug Prevention Association (Pemadam), PAVAC not only focuses on drug prevention education but also helps promote NLHI's objectives. 'What sets NLHI apart is its comprehensive strategy. It goes beyond awareness by incorporating artificial intelligence (AI), active community participation, and strong public policy support,' he said. A major upcoming event under NLHI is the National Tobacco Control Conference 2025, to be held from May 30 to June 1 at Universiti Cyberjaya in conjunction with World No Tobacco Day on May 31.
CBS News
19-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Miami Northwestern teacher uses dance to motivate students
For almost two decades, Traci Young-Byron has been at the head of one of Miami's most iconic high school dance troupes, the Miami Northwestern G Girls. Young-Byron has taught hundreds of students, with many going on to have professional dance careers. Her TikTok videos of the dancers go viral, some have over a million views. In those clips, you don't often see her, but you can certainly hear her. She's a dance coach taking on the role of a dance mom, cheerleader and their loudest supporter—all in one, rooting on her girls from the sidelines. Talaiyah Bradley is one of those students. She's a senior at Miami Northwestern Sr. High. She says, "She's been riding me since I was like 7 honestly, so I'm pretty good with it. I like it, it pushes me to where I need to be. It's pushed me to who I am today." Where Bradley is today is a 4.0 student who will enter college having already earned enough credits to be considered a college junior. Young-Byron has been leading PAVAC, the Performing and Visual Arts Center Magnet program, for 19 years. The G Girls are a subset of PAVAC. She's a former student of the program and it's that unique perspective her students say helps her reach them. Keziah Robinson, also a senior, says it's empowering. "It's therapy without words. You can express so much through dance—whether you're angry, you're sad, you're happy, you're frustrated—whatever it is, you can leave whatever situation you have at the door of the dance room." These young women aren't just good in a dance studio; they hit the books equally as hard. Young-Byron boasts that her students have a 99 percent high school graduation, college acceptance and college graduation rate. Robinson says she wants to be "an automotive design engineer." Kiayra Stevens, also a senior, says her goal is to one day be "a behavioral analyst for the FBI." The students admit that Young-Byron's toughness is what helps them dream big. Stevens says they know what they're getting is passion. "Some people think Mrs. Young-Byron is a mean person, but she's very passionate about dance." Young-Byron has been dancing since she was three years old. She says she fell in love with dance at the age of nine and has been teaching since she was 16. Her drive grew out of being told no. "I call myself my moniker 'Supa Black Girl,' and I think because there's an invisible cape that I wear. I'm a chocolate girl and I know when I grew up, it wasn't deemed as beautiful to be a chocolate Black dancer back in the '90s. So I've taken the things that people have thrown against me and made it something beautiful." Now, at 45 years old, Young-Byron says seeing her students accomplish their dreams keeps her motivated. "Everybody's into gentle teaching and parenting. I'm a little old school, so for me, that doesn't really work. But I get on them because I see the potential—sometimes I see things in them they don't see in themselves." Young-Byron's students' résumés are impressive. Her alumni roster includes Broadway performers and backup dancers for Ciara and Beyoncé. She also has dancers who have performed for every major sports team in South Florida, including the Miami Heat, Miami Dolphins cheerleaders, Miami Marlins and Florida Panthers.
