Dubai: Dubai Municipality is holding an awareness drive and quit-smoking contest to mark World No Tobacco Day, which falls on May 31.
The UN this year is focusing on the illegal tobacco trade.
In Dubai, the municipality will hold its campaign, focused on the youth, at Mirdif City Centre and Dubai Mall on May 30-31 in participation with Dubai Health Authority.
Marwan Al Mohammad, Director, Public Health and Safety Department, Dubai Municipality, said the campaign also focuses on passive or second-hand smoking that hurts people who are around smokers. He cited World Health Organisation research saying there are 6,000,000 deaths a year around the world due to tobacco use. Also, young people exposed to second-hand smoke are more likely to start smoking.
The municipality is also launching a competition to encourage smokers aged 18-25 to quit the habit and win financial rewards. To send home the message, there will be 3D models showing damage from smoking. There will also be health tips, brochures and how-to-quit clinics, and health specialists on site.
The UAE signed the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2003 and its approval in 2005 was the catalyst for the issue of the tobacco control law.
The municipality issued a regulation in 2007 on smoking in public places and restaurants and banning the sale of tobacco to those less than 18 years old.
It is looking to strengthen cooperation for the implementation of Federal Law No 15 of 2009 on Tobacco Control on implementing the regulations along with the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing.
