JEDDAH, 25 September 2006 — More than 180,000 students in 215 schools in the Makkah region have quit smoking as a result of ongoing government awareness programs, according to Abdullah ibn Abdul Rahman Al-Othaim, chairman of the Saudi Charitable Society for creating awareness about the dangerous effects of smoking and drugs.
Addressing the annual meeting of the society, which was attended by Jeddah Governor Prince Mishaal ibn Majed, Al-Othaim said his organization would educate a million students, both male and female, on the hazards of smoking.
“We are confident that this awareness program will help them discard the bad habit of smoking and taking drugs. We also believe that such awareness programs among the youth are significant as they represent the country’s future.”
During the past two years the society’s awareness campaigns covered more than 500,000 people. “We gave 447 lectures at mosques benefiting 150,000 people and held 93 exhibitions benefiting another 150,000 people,” Al-Othaim said.
He said the society was planning to set up a mobile exhibition to educate people of all sections about the dangerous effects of smoking and drugs. “We are also in the process of establishing a database for the benefit of researchers and other interested people,” he pointed out.
The society collected SR1.5 million in a fundraising campaign held yesterday to support its activities. Prince Mishaal opened the donations by giving SR100,000.
