Major drive launched against smoking

Dubai: Health authorities are targeting children and women in a new anti-smoking campaign launched on World No Tobacco Day on Sunday, acknowledging the growing numbers of smokers among these segments of society.

Dubai Health Authority (DHA), in partnership with the Islamic Affairs Department and other government agencies, along with private partners, launched the anti-smoking campaign at Rashid School for Boys.

The campaign is divided in four phases: public awareness through government clinics, holding seminars and referrals at schools, at malls and organisations, and finally, approaching women.

Dr Ebrahim Kalban, head of the primary healthcare department at DHA, told the press after the launch that the campaigns were targeting women and children because their numbers have been increasing over the years. "I don't have exact statistics but I know they are increasing," he said.