Abu Dhabi: Shaikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) will mark ‘World No Tobacco Day' on May 27 and 28, an international health awareness event conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
According to Dr Abdul Razzak Al Kaddour, Cardiology Consultant, SKMC, tobacco consumption continues to be the leading preventable cause of death in the world. Nearly five million people die of it each year. That number is expected to double by 2020.
During the two-day campaign, a team from the Preventive Cardiology and Cardiac Rehabilitation Division will be available in a booth at Khalidiya Mall on the ground floor from 6 to 9pm to offer free testing for visitors with a carbon monoxide smoke analyser, as well as free counselling for smokers.
Tobacco cessation educational documents will also be distributed along with questionnaires.
Research shows that those who consume tobacco are not the only ones exposed its negative effects and that millions of people, including half the world's children, are exposed to second-hand or passive smoke.
SKMC will continue to offer a free smoking cessation programme for their employees as part of their employee wellness programme initiatives.
