Smoking kills you, it makes you poor too

By Ilia L Likou 13 October 2017, 12:00AM

Smoking kills you. What’s more, it makes you poor because you spend all your money hunting for a cigarette when you are desperate.

This is why Mona Fa’afua, a 25-year-old male from the village of Faleula, quit smoking two years ago.

“To be honest, I smoked when I was still young until I felt sick with chest pain and got admitted to the hospital,” he said.

“My lungs really hurt and made it hard for me to breathe and I almost died. The doctor told me that it’s time for me to quit smoking and alcohol or else I’ll die soon.” 

“To me, quitting smoking is the best preventive medicine to stay alive and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation.”

Mona works as a grounds man at Vailele.

“Honestly I saved a lot of money from quitting smoking and drinking, I mean smoking is bad for our body and our overall health. After quitting smoking, I feel a lot better.”

Mona said smoking cigarettes was really bad.

“Yes, many people said it relieves stress for a while and makes you feel good but the cons outway the pros.” 

“It’s not that if you smoke today, you’ll get sick tomorrow, no, it will create disease after disease. Smoking cigarettes can cause cancer, heart attack and other killer disease.”

“You will develop lifelong problems with smoking and I thank God that I’m still alive today.”

“Smoking does not only affect smokers, but also people around them, especially family members.”

When asked about what he was doing now, Mona said: “I work from Monday to Friday and I earn $120 per week and even though it’s not enough to cater for my family’s basic needs for the week, I can still at least contribute to my family. 

He told the Village Voice that “life is all about hard work”.

“I think this is the only way to tackle the struggle that we’re facing now.”

“To me, this isn’t the right time to just sit around and expect a miracle, which is why no matter how old I get; I will still work hard to help my family.”

We need to help ourselves first, we need to work together for our family, Mona said.

By Ilia L Likou 13 October 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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