Dubai: Teenagers were warned against smoking at an awareness event for cardiovascular disease organised by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) yesterday.
In an attempt to ensure a negative association with the habit, students aged 14-17 were shown laboratory specimens of a smoker's lung which was grey-black in colour compared to that of a non-smoker's which was pink-red. They were also educated on the link between cardiovascular disease and tobacco use, especially when consumption of tobacco begins at a young age.
A big issue that concerns health care authorities is smoking among teenagers, Dr Nooshin Bazargani, cardiologist from Dubai Hospital and board member of the World Heart Federation (WHF), said. She told Gulf News, "The environment is such that teens find it easy to pick tobacco, including cigarette, shisha and midwakh. Statistics show that 18 per cent of adults in the UAE are smokers, and 29 per cent of teens. However, this percentage is under-represented because female teens and adults do not report their smoking habit due to cultural barriers."
During the event, supported by the WHF, the Emirates Cardiac Society and AstraZeneca Gulf, Dr Bazargani said that youth are the most susceptible demographic. "There are several factors why youth pick the habit. We haven't done enough in terms of public awareness campaigns, and shisha and cigarettes are freely available. Further, tobacco sources are affordable."
To address the concern, she said that authorities have to push for more public health campaigns, and talks at schools and colleges. "The government and policymakers should ban tobacco advertisements and increase health warnings on tobacco products. The good news is that from August this year, the UAE will increase the prices of all tobacco sources, especially of cigarettes and shisha by 200 per cent."
