The Health Authority - Abu Dhabi (HA-AD) today unveiled its new anti-smoking public health awareness campaign ahead of this year’s World No Tobacco Day on 31st May.
The announcement was made during a press conference at the HA-AD where senior officials revealed the particulars of the multi-million dirham campaigns program that will start with the anti-smoking campaign.
Commencing on the 31st of May, the campaign will initially continue until the 13th of June and will highlight the health hazards related to smoking, give tips on how to quit smoking and will encourage 100% smoke-free work and public environments. The campaign will run for two weeks across newspapers, magazines, radio, internet, cinema and outdoor posters.
Dr. Ahmed Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the HA-AD stated that health education is one of the main pillars of the HA-AD strategy to fight diseases and improve the health status of people in the UAE.
“Educating the people and stringently applying preventative policies will reduce the number of patients with cancer and other serious diseases in the future and will help us build a healthy society,” he added.
Dr. Al Mazrouei thanked HH President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, for their inspired support of the Health Authority’s health awareness campaigns.
Recent studies conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) have shown that smoking rates have risen at to an alarming level in the UAE. 24.3% of males between the ages of 13-15 are currently smoking tobacco products while as many as 42% of 17 year old males have developed smoking habits. Of the total male adult population in the country, 20% are smokers. Adult female smokers constitute 2.9%.
“This campaign is the first of many to come. We will be using different activities and methods to help spread our message. We want to reach the largest number of people possible, whether they are smokers or non-smokers, and we will be emphasizing the massive dangers associated with smoking in our campaigns,” commented Eng. Zaid Al Siksek, Director of Health Policy and Regulation at the HA-AD.
According to research conducted by the WHO, tobacco is responsible for causing the second largest number of deaths in the world. It causes lung and throat cancer, and heart disease plus increases the risk of miscarriage, low birth weight, premature babies, stillbirth, early menopause, osteoporosis (brittle bone disease) in women, and impotence and prostrate cancer in men. Currently responsible for the death of one in ten adults worldwide, it is expected that tobacco will be responsible for the deaths of 650 million people between now and 2020 if current smoking trends continue.
Dr. Oliver Harrison, Head of Public Health at the HA-AD, further commented that “Recent studies have revealed that the number of people smoking in the UAE is rising at an alarming rate. Via this campaign, we want to educate the public about the health risks and particularly how parents should be setting an example to their children.”
Another focus of the campaign will be to promote Smoke-Free Environments (SFEs) and educate the public to help establish and respect these zones. The campaign will encourage people to demand smoke-free environments at their work places, and in public areas. According to the WHO, SFEs incentivise smokers to cut down or stop smoking altogether, and provide healthier spaces for all.
Tips given by HA-AD to help quit smoking include:
Identify the triggers that make you smoke
Pick a quit date, plan it out properly, and stick to it
Change your attitude towards smoking and your lifestyle
Take it one day at a time, and congratulate yourself every day
Keep a calendar and mark off each smoke-free day
Pair up with another quitter for support
Throw away any remaining cigarettes
Carry chewing gum and drink lots of water
Avoid situations where you might be tempted to smoke
Keep track of all the money you save
Don’t feel guilty if you slip up – learn from the mistake
Think positive – you CAN do it!
