UAE | Health
Major drive launched against smoking
Health authorities are targeting children and women in a new anti-smoking campaign launched on World No Tobacco Day yesterday, acknowledging the growing numbers of smokers among these segments of society.
- By Nina Muslim, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:23 May 31, 2009
- The campaign is divided in four phases: public awareness through government clinics, holding seminars and referrals at schools, at malls and organisations, and finally, approaching women.
- Image Credit:
Dubai: Health authorities are targeting children and women in a new anti-smoking campaign launched on World No Tobacco Day on Sunday, acknowledging the growing numbers of smokers among these segments of society.
Dubai Health Authority (DHA), in partnership with the Islamic Affairs Department and other government agencies, along with private partners, launched the anti-smoking campaign at Rashid School for Boys.
The campaign is divided in four phases: public awareness through government clinics, holding seminars and referrals at schools, at malls and organisations, and finally, approaching women.
Dr Ebrahim Kalban, head of the primary healthcare department at DHA, told the press after the launch that the campaigns were targeting women and children because their numbers have been increasing over the years. "I don't have exact statistics but I know they are increasing," he said.
Support: Imams to spread wordImams are being recruited to spread the word on the hazards of smoking, receiving training from medical professionals as part of Dubai's anti-smoking campaign.
Dubai Health Authority (DHA) launched the year-long campaign on World No Tobacco Day on Sunday, to roll out in four phases dealing with the community, schools, shopping malls, organisations and supermarkets, and women.
Dr Ebrahim Kalban, head of primary healthcare at DHA, said imams have started their training, organised by the Islamic Affairs Department in Dubai.
"The training session gives them the dangers of smoking from a medical perspective, which helps support the religious [edicts[ to not endanger one's health and others," he said.
Share this article
Related Articles
-
Municipality observes no smoking day
Dubai Municipality observes World No Tobacco Day
-
Positive response to anti-smoking drive
Positive response to anti-smoking drive
-
More than 500 smokers in UAE pledge to give up smoking
More than 500 smokers in UAE pledge to give up smoking
-
Shisha breaks social barrier in the UAE
Shisha breaks social barrier in the UAE
-
For some, chain of relapses becomes a challenge
For some, chain of relapses becomes a challenge
Popular in UAE
-
Your pictures
Readers' pictures
The best reader pictures from around the UAE this week
Latest news
- Youngsters arrested for violating decency laws
- Road work delay jams Deira
- Metro has carried nearly 3m people
- Haj pilgrims from UAE get quality services
- There's something to sing and dance about in Sonapur
- Internet blamed for reading habit decline
- Tache the way to highlight causes
- Local students shine at Dubai media awards
- Charity trek to frozen heights raises Dh180,000
- Parents want pupils dropped off inside schools
- Community event to salute selfless citizens
- Time to properly deal with waste
- Focus on Guggenheim: Abu Dhabi keeps art lovers hooked
- Holidaymakers in UAE make a beeline to deserts during the cool season
- Five months later, same driver, same queue
Community Reports
-
Keeping out curious cats in Abu Dhabi
Felines trapped in electrical substations create a nuisance
-
Construction site turned into dump
Sharjah residents using abandoned spot to dispose of waste
-
Stop disregarding road rules
Gulf News reader calls on authorities to curb reckless driving during rush hours in Mussafah industrial area underpass
-
Public transport is the way to go
Residents must stop complaining about feeder buses taking up parking space
