UAE | Health
Shock tactics 'only way to make UAE smokers quit habit'
Using shock tactics is the only way to convince people to stop smoking, according to a Dubai Municipality doctor.
- By Alice Johnson, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:25 August 4, 2008
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Dubai: Using shock tactics is the only way to convince people to stop smoking, according to a Dubai Municipality doctor.
"We won't just talk to smokers, we will show them the effects of smoking on the body," said Dr Mohammad Metwalli, Occupational medicine specialist, Public Health Department, Dubai Municipality.
"We will have jars showing smokers' lungs and healthy lungs, and jars showing examples of kidney, lung and throat cancer. We will also do tests in front of them, measuring carbon monoxide levels [in the blood] for smokers and non-smokers. We will show them the effects of ten years of smoking on your life," the specialist doctor said.
"It's very hard to convince people to stop smoking - we have to show them, they will see it with their own eyes, not just hear about them [the effects]," he continued.
Campaigns in schools
According to his data, 50 per cent of smokers who see the effects of smoking and then directly proceed to a consultation with a doctor would quit the habit.
However, 90 per cent of the smokers who do not immediately visit a doctor for consultation will return to the habit.
The department has run anti-smoking programmes for employees working in Dubai Municipality, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority and the Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department, and to date, 100 employees have quit the habit.
A "quit smoking" clinic is due to be set up by the end of this year, providing people with consultations and appointments, at the Public Health Department. After the summer, a health education campaign will be held in a number of schools, which will also include a study. Students from ages 12 to 19 will be targeted by this campaign.
"A Ministry of Health study showed that about 30 per cent of students are smokers, so we want to find out the causes and reasons for this trend," Metwalli said.
He continued that lectures were previously held, but they were not effective and attendees consisted mainly of non-smokers.
"We are also convincing non-smokers to help smokers quit. Passive smoking is very dangerous for non-smokers - it's the same as if they are smokers. If there is a lady who smokes, we tell her it is bad for her children and convince her to stop smoking at home," he said.
A smoking consultation involves education, psychological support and consultation advice. If smokers experience withdrawal symptoms, treatment can be prescribed; such as nicotine patches.
Metwalli said: "You have to make the decision now. If you think you will quit tomorrow, you will never stop."
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