Hari Janu Nurdiansyah, known as Janu, is a 31-year-old nurse working in a public hospital in the Cibinong area of Bogor, Indonesia. He is also a freelance photographer, videographer, and video editor. Janu's experience with smoking began when his older friends introduced him to smoking at elementary school. As he progressed to junior high school in Sukabumi, the influence of these friends became more significant as smoking became a daily habit for them. Janu's smoking habits reached their peak when he worked at a radio station in Bandung. Pressures associated with his work led him to smoke more, sometimes consuming up to two packs a day. He started with milder brands but eventually transitioned to high-nicotine cigarettes, further exacerbating his addiction.
Janu then pursued a career in health and became a nurse in 2017. As a healthcare professional, Janu regularly interacts with pediatric doctors and parents. He learned that smoking parents were a major factor contributing to severe respiratory issues in their children, such as bronchopneumonia requiring admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). Witnessing these cases prompted Janu to consider quitting smoking. He did not want to jeopardise his wife's health or see his children suffer because of his smoking. Motivated by these considerations, Janu gradually reduced his smoking habits until he finally quit altogether. With the money he once spent on cigarettes, he now invests in his family's well-being by purchasing healthier food choices. By redirecting his earnings towards wholesome groceries, Janu ensures that his family receives nourishment that supports their physical and mental well-being.
Assignment for WHO
WHO/Fieni Aprilia
Yuliana, Nada, Naurah, and Janu on the way to the neighbourhood park to enjoy the morning and to play together.
According to Janu, when the sudden craving for a cigarette arises, finding alternative activities can be helpful. For instance, watching a movie or going for a family outing can divert the mind from smoking. By finding healthy and enjoyable ways to cope with stress, individuals can avoid turning to smoking.
Janu feeds one of his twin daughters, Naurah, before he takes them to school.
Janu redirects the money he once spent on cigarettes towards more beneficial purposes. Instead of watching his hard-earned money go up in smoke, he chose to save and invest it wisely. Janu prioritised purchasing healthier food for his family, recognising the importance of nourishing their bodies with nutritious options.
Janu and Yuliana take their twin daughters, Naura and Nada, to school in the morning.
Since Janu made the life-changing decision to quit smoking, he has been able to embrace a healthier and more fulfilling lifestyle, allowing him to devote quality time to his children. Every morning, instead of indulging in a cigarette, Janu now has the opportunity to take his children to school before his nurse duty at RSUD Cibinong.
"If I could turn back time and rewind the clock. There are so many other things I could have done, countless opportunities beyond smoking. Those are the things that could have made my lives, both now and in the years to come, so much better. Quitting smoking is undoubtedly one of them. It would have a profound impact if I could have chosen not to smoke from the beginning.”
Janu preparing the machines to be used in the Dialysis and Rehabilitation Unit of RSUD Cibinong in Cibinong, West Java.
Through his work in the Dialysis and Rehabilitation Unit, Janu continues to demonstrate the far-reaching benefits of quitting smoking, both for himself and for those he cares for, fostering a supportive environment where patients feel understood on their journey towards better health.