MINA, 10 February 2003 — The Ministry of Health launched its first Haj anti-smoking campaign yesterday.
“The campaign came in response to the instruction of Minister of Health Dr. Osama Abdul Majeed Shobukshi to take advantage of the Haj occasion to continue fighting smoking as part of the Kingdom’s efforts in this field,” Dr. Abdullah Al Badah, director of the national anti-smoking campaign and assistant director general of hospitals at the MoH, told Arab News.
“The purpose of the campaign is to make pilgrims aware of the severe consequences of smoking on health, society and the economy,” he said.
“My estimation is that a third of the pilgrims, or around 700,000, are smokers,” he said, adding that this estimate is based on studies of the World Health Organization on the numbers of smokers in the pilgrims’ home countries.
During the campaign around 20 specialist staff from the ministry will distribute flyers, booklets, and audio cassettes, as well as speak to pilgrims about the harm resulting from smoking and give advice on how to quit. There will also be anti-smoking banners and billboards along the pilgrimage route.
