UAE | Health
Ras Al Khaimah gets tough with smokers
An anti-smoking programme in Ras Al Khaimah will target schoolchildren directly, starting from the beginning of the new academic year.
- By Nasouh Nazzal, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:54 June 22, 2008
Ras Al Khaimah: An anti-smoking programme in Ras Al Khaimah will target schoolchildren directly, starting from the beginning of the new academic year.
The emirate's Medical District will open an anti-smoking centre in a secondary school to help students in the secondary and preparatory stages quit. More anti-smoking centres will be opened later.
The Medical District announced the number of student smokers has been steadily rising. At least 14 per cent of students from the secondary and preparatory stages in Ras Al Khaimah are smokers.
An official said well-designed rehabilitation programmes will be offered at the new school centre.
School managements have tried to deal with the smoking problem, but without success.
The official said neither school managements nor parents had been able to stop smoking in the risk group consisting of 12- to 18-year-olds.
He said the emirate has now decided to take a stand against smoking.
Only three per cent of smokers who showed up at the emirate's anti-smoking centre were women, because women often smoke secretly for social reasons.
Share this article
More from UAE Health
More from UAE
Popular in UAE
-
Your pictures
Readers' pictures
A Selection of the best Gulf News reader pictures this week
Latest news
- Dubai to open seven new parks
- Girl dies in fire started by stepbrother
- Motorists, pedestrians urged to be more careful
- A road that is best avoided
- Security services work round-the-clock
- Tougher policing brings down Dubai road fatalities
- 'I want to show anyone can celebrate'
- Dubai to introduce 900km of cycling lanes
- UAE National Day: Preparations in full swing
- Universities celebrate UAE National Day
- Brothers' triple success
- Reviving age-old craftsmanship
- Youth reconnect with history
- Fatima: UAE's women are exercising full rights
- Emirates Palace gears up for festivities
Community Reports
-
A road that is best avoided
Thoroughfare connecting capital's Hamdan Street and Electra Street poses safety and health hazards
-
Please don't use two parking spaces
Thoughtless drivers means other motorists are losing out in a city where places to leave cars are often hard to find
-
School buses must do safe drop-offs
Some bus drivers let students off at the wrong side of the road
-
Munching on a health hazard
Residents must be careful about consuming snacks and sandwiches prepared along the roadside as they attract dirt and bacteria
