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From 6 July 2006, a graphic version of the current edition is available at the Daily News Online web site.

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Former Lentsweletau MP David Magang is expected to be the guest speaker.

The aim of the day is to sensitise people about the harm that tobacco smokers inflict on their families and ultimately on the nation at large.

Tuduetso Ramokate, senior health officer in the Ministry of Health, said in an interview that the theme also "draws a connection between smoking and poverty".

"We want to send the message that smoking is not only a health hazard, but is also a social problem that contributes extensively to poverty." Ramokate said it was unfortunate that sometime family members ended up paying exorbitant medical fees that could have been avoided had the smoker heeded advice.

Previous campaigns had emphasised the harmful physical effects that smoking can have on a person, including addiction, diseases, risks and ultimately premature death.

But poverty has been included in the equation after a recent survey showed that smoking is costly and that most average smokers in Batswana cannot afford it without being a burden to their families.

President of Stop Smoking Support Group in Gaborone, Simon Mophakedi told BOPA that their Quit Smoking Clinics were functioning well.

People who want or have quit smoking meet every Tuesday to support and encourage one another not to go back to smoking.

Members of the association consist mainly of people who used to chain-smoke but had resolved to quit.

"Fifteen of the 17 people who founded the association in 2002 have completely quit smoking and only two have lapsed on the way." Mophakedi said some of the smokers came to their association for help "expecting to be given tablets or medicines to help them quit.

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