Dr. Tawfik Khoja, Director General of the Executive Board of the Health Ministers' Council for the GCC states.RIYADH – The growing number of young smokers in the Kingdom has spurred calls by the Shoura Council for more initiatives to raise awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco, especially among youth. They want campaigns similar to “Riyadh: A Smoke-free City” in other cities of the Kingdom, along with more measures to help smokers kick the habit and prevent others from starting it. The campaign in Riyadh, which was jointly launched five years ago by the Anti-Smoking Charity Organization (Naqa) and the Sulaiman Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Rajhi Charity Organization, changed the perspective of Riyadh's society regarding smoking and raised awareness about the importance of fighting it, organizers said. Members of the Shoura Council, who are discussing the implementation of an anti-smoking law, also warned against advertisements that promote tobacco, a recent report in Al-Riyadh Arabic daily said. Joining forces About 22,000 people in the Kingdom die every year due to smoking-related diseases, according to statistics. Smoking is a serious problem that must be addressed, said Dr. Tawfik Khoja, Director General of the Executive Board of the Health Ministers' Council for the GCC states. “If we look at the magnitude of this problem and its detrimental effects on health, society and economy, rapidly growing number of smokers of different ages who squander their money on smoking and the increasing rate of diseases caused by smoking, we will realize that it is important for all civil organizations to join forces to combat tobacco,” he said. Smoking is a national problem and all relevant authorities such as ministries of health, commerce, information and education and Customs Authority should participate in efforts to fight smoking, Dr. Khoja added. Dr. Khoja wondered why private sector companies and non-profit organizations, which have social responsibilities, do not adopt initiatives similar to those of the Al-Rajhi Charity Organization. He stressed that constant efforts to combat smoking should be exerted to prevent teenagers from falling prey to tobacco companies and social networking websites such as Facebook and Twitter should be used to promote anti-smoking campaigns. Huge costs Dr. Fahd Al-Khudairi, head of the Cancer Unit at King Faisal Specialist Hospital, said costs to treat smoking-related diseases are enormous. “The government spends billions of riyals to treat tobacco victims, whether they are patients suffering from cancer, heart problems or respiratory disorders,” he said. “Smoking takes a heavy toll on the economy. ‘Riyadh: A Smoke-free City' is an encouraging step that should be adopted by other cities.” Social awareness Dr. Fahd Al-Enzi, member of Shoura Council, also commended the efforts by Al-Rajhi Charity Organization to raise public awareness regarding negative effects of tobacco. “This is the type of initiative we need to fight this dangerous plague,” he said. “However, there is no quick fix for the problem. It takes time to combat tobacco and the behavior associated with it. The Al-Rajhi Charity Organization will be able to design and assess plans to create radical solutions to the tobacco problem in our society.” Dr. Al-Enzi added that it is important to remind people about the threats of smoking. “Health and environmental problems need public awareness. Authorities and non-profit organizations should not turn a blind eye to this global problem, which is being given full attention by the World Health Organization,” he said. Referring to the successful tobacco business in the country, he said, “We should not forget that we have to face gigantic tobacco companies that launch counter-campaigns,” he said. “The society should be aware of the campaigns launched by these companies. It is essential that our civil organizations be aware of their social responsibility and stand in the face of tobacco manufacturers.” Successful experience Sulaiman Al-Sabi, Secretary General of Naqa Organization, said their effort in Riyadh has been effective and called for anti-smoking campaigns in other cities. “Our initiative ‘Riyadh: A Smoke-free-City' was a huge success because not only did it raise people's awareness and help tobacco users quit smoking, it also contributed to issuing official decisions supporting the fight against tobacco in the Kingdom. It is essential that other cities take similar initiatives,” he said He added that the campaign in Riyadh contributed to decisions to prohibit smoking in airports and limit it to certain sections of sports stadiums. Naqa Organization also held its first Anti-Tobacco Forum, to address the issue. It was a large international gathering, with participation of local and international experts.Over the last five years, the campaign has also included holding several festivals and awareness programs, and training staff to combat smoking. The Prince Sattam Bin Abdul Aziz Award for Smoke-free Environments is also a result of the initiative, Al-Sabi added. He wonders, though, if other organizations pay enough attention to the issue. “These initiatives require long term plans and full support from the private sector,” he said.
