Dubai: More than nine per cent of schoolchildren and 20 per cent of university students smoke, with the numbers increasing per year, a municipal official said yesterday.

The Public Health Services Department of Dubai Municipality organised a campaign ‘No To Bad Company’ campaign, in collaboration with Dubai Police and Juvenile Awareness and Care Association, especially trageting smoking among youngsters.

Dr Muneer Hamad, general practitioner at Dubai Municipality Clinic, explained that the municipality’s role during the campaign was to emphasise the dangers of smoking at a young age.

“Over the last 10 years, the municipality has observed World No Smoking Day and has launched several campaigns to support the cause. Due to our expertise, we were chosen by Dubai Police to focus on the anti-smoking aspect of the campaign,” said Dr Hamad.

He pointed out that the campaign included holding lectures and distributing pamphlets to four schools and four universities in Dubai and Sharjah.

The three-month “No To Bad Company” campaign was held in collaboration with 28 government departments, and targeted school and university students to help them refrain from smoking, and using internet sites irresponsibly, in addition to other bad habits.

“During our research in the last two years, in 2012, nine per cent of schoolchildren smoked while 20 per cent of university students were smokers,” said Dr Hamad.

He explained that the statistics relied on men, as women who smoked have a tendency to hide the habit.

“Being a community service organisation, the civic body is aware of its social commitment which has been proved by its constant community initiatives that could contribute to help the society to understand their duties and responsibilities towards fellow people,” said Eng. Salah Amiri, Assistant Director General of Dubai Municipality.

“Dubai Police have launched this campaign in collaboration with government authorities including Dubai Municipality considering its big role in communicating with the members of society in many community based activities,” said Colonel Dr Jasem Mirza, Director of Security Awareness Department at Dubai Police and Head of Media Committee at Juvenile Awareness and Care Association.

“Our responsibility is not only to construct aesthetic buildings but also to create a new generation that respects morals and values that we cherish. As smoking is the first step to drug addiction, we need to take all measures to eradicate the phenomena of smoking from our new generation,” said Col Dr Mirza.