Six hundred and sixty-one female smokers have visited anti-smoking clinics recently, said Ali Al-Wadae’e, general supervisor of the anti-smoking program.

“The number of patients registered with anti-smoking clinics has reached 7,200 of which 994 visit ‘fixed’ clinics and 6,202 attend mobile clinics. A total of 5,545 male and 661 female patients have visited our clinics so far,” Al-Wadae’e said.

This has come in the wake of increasing awareness of the harmful effects of smoking and is an indication of the large numbers of people willing to seek help to rid themselves of this toxic habit.

Several awareness campaigns were held where therapeutic clinics, under the supervision of the anti-smoking program, offered treatment to citizens and residents in various parts of the Kingdom.

In the first phase of the mobile clinics program, several clinics opened up in a number of cities for the second and third time this year. An anti-smoking clinic is open in Taif at the International Mall; in Jazan at the Rosa Mall in Sabia and in Riyadh at the King Saud Medical City.

Al-Wadae’e said that the clinics provide a full range of outreach services, medical consultation and therapeutic services free of charge for smokers of both sexes to help them quit.

“The clinics receive patients in reception areas allocated for this purpose and record their information which is handled with utmost confidentiality. Then, the smoker is directed to the nursing station to have his vital signs such as pulse, temperature and blood pressure measured. After that, the patient enters one of three clinics that have specialized doctors who provide medical consultation and prescribe an appropriate treatment program for each individual case,” elaborated the general supervisor.

He added that there are special sections for women with female staff where smokers are guaranteed complete privacy.

The clinics are also supported by a call center which contacts patients periodically to follow up on their cases and direct them to completing the treatment program, he said.

Al-Wadae’e pointed out that the responsibility for getting rid of smoking and supporting the anti-smoking program should be shared by other governmental authorities and not be confined only to the Ministry of Health.

Smoking is banned at all airports, government and commercial buildings and offices in the Kingdom.

In addition, a number of Saudi universities have been launching campaigns to curb smoking and making institutions smoke-free zones. The Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities (SCTA) has also imposed a ban on smoking in all tourism facilities while the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu has prohibited people from smoking in and around its buildings.

The ban also covers the smoking of shisha (water pipe) in public places and prohibits tobacco sales to people under 18.

Statistics reveal that the Kingdom is the world’s fourth largest importer of tobacco and that 6 million Saudis spend about SR30 million a day on cigarettes.