JEDDAH, 1 June 2004 — Minister of Health Dr. Hamad Al-Manie has acknowledged that the Kingdom’s campaign to increase public awareness of the dangers of smoking had been a failure. He said the number of smokers was in fact increasing.
Speaking to reporters after opening a medical seminar at King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh, Al-Manie emphasized that his ministry would take punitive action against its employees who smoke inside the ministry or its health facilities.
“The program to enhance public awareness on the harmful effects of smoking has failed,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted the minister as saying.
Earlier addressing the seminar organized on the occasion of the World No Tobacco Day, the minister described smoking as the “most dangerous epidemic” that affects mankind.
He emphasized the need to establish a serious program to promote positive thinking among people to help them stop smoking.
Tobacco is the fourth most common risk factor for disease worldwide. The economic costs of tobacco use are equally devastating. In addition to the high public health costs of treating tobacco-related diseases, tobacco kills people at the height of their productivity, depriving families of breadwinners and nations of a healthy workforce.
Suleiman Al-Sabiy, chairman of the Charitable Society for Combating Smoking, spoke about the vicious circle of smoking and poverty.
Tobacco users are also less productive due to increased sickness.
A 1994 report estimated that tobacco use resulted in an annual global net loss of $200 trillion, a third of this amount being in developing countries.
“People also spend a lot of money on tobacco at the expense of basic requirements,” Sabiy pointed out.
He also spoke about the social and psychological problems caused by the habit and called for the implementation of the law that forbids smoking in public places.
Saudi Arabia has banned smoking at government departments and advertisement of tobacco products in its media and decided to impose fines on those who smoke in public places.
