Jeddah wakes up to oust smoking habit

The city of Jeddah is being galvanized for a nine-day anti-smoking campaign, which boasts several awareness programs.
Adnan Mandoura, secretary-general of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), formally launched the campaign in the presence of Sami Badawood, director of Jeddah Health Affairs, on Friday evening.
“The campaign is a much needed initiative to create awareness about the health implications of tobacco consumption,” said Khalid Bawaked, assistant director of Public Health Affairs. “Initiatives such as this one are crucial, especially among youth.”
He said that the ministry is planning to establish mini-clinics for developing anti-smoking and nutrition education. He said that these clinics will be equipped with facilities for checking sugar and blood pressure levels and also carbon monoxide.
Khalid stressed that the program was designed to encourage youth toward sports and other community members to take up walking in a bid to oust the habit.
The Kaffi Association aims to conduct series of events about tobacco consumption in the city.
According to its president, Dr. Salah Al–Sheikh, the Kaffi association plans to conduct a series of programs for four days from Tuesday under the patronage of Makkah Governor Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah.
He said that its time to educate youth about dangerous of tobacco and also drugs. He praised law enforcement agencies for confiscating large quantities of drugs and other banned substances.
Al-Sheikh recalled the recent seizures of drug shipments worth SR2 billion during the first three months of this year.
A mega-event will be held at King Abdulaziz events center in Abruq Al-Raqma on Tuesday, he said.