Introduction:
Every year the World Health Organization (WHO) marks World No Tobacco Day, highlighting the health and additional risks associated with tobacco, advocating for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption. Smoking is the leading cause pf preventable death at the international level and it kills one in every ten adults in all parts of the world.
Smoking is one of the main causes of death, it kills 6 million persons annually and is expected to increase to over 8 million annually by 2030, and in addition to that, it is one of the risk factors of many diseases.
Combating smoking is a key element of WHO response to the global epidemic of non-communicable diseases, particularly heart diseases, blood vessels, cancer, chronic kidney and diabetes and other diseases. The non-communicable diseases cause the death of around 16 million persons annually (before the age of 70). Reducing tobacco use plays a key role in global efforts to achieve the development goal of reducing premature deaths from non-communicable diseases by one-third by 2030.
The Ministry of health (MOH), represented by the Anti-Smoking Program, has sought to develop therapeutic services to help smokers who wish to quit by:
- Opening a number of anti-smoking clinics in different regions and provinces of the Kingdom.
- Issuing the Saudi Guide for Tobacco-Cessation Services, as a guide for service providers.
- Holding many theoretical and practical courses for workers in the field.
- Providing anti-smoking drugs for citizens free of charge.
- The MOH approved mobile clinic project through which it seeks to provide easier and more widespread quitting services and increases the number of beneficiaries by reaching the places where smokers are in large numbers such as: workplace, shopping centers and recreation areas.
Key Facts:
- Tobacco kills up to half of its users.
- Nearly 80% of the world's more than 1 billion smokers live in low- and middle-income countries.
- Tobacco contains tar, which causes lung cancer and narrow respiratory tract.
- Reduces the efficiency of red blood cells in the transport of oxygen because of its containment of carbon monoxide; leading to:
- Atherosclerosis and high blood pressure.
- Emphysema or bronchitis.
- Angina pectoris.
- Optic atrophy.
- Stroke.
- Teeth loss.
- Heart attack.
Objectives of the World No Tobacco Day:
- Raise awareness of individual and family about the risks of starting smoking and the danger of the passive smoking.
- Highlight the prevalence of the habit among young people (male and female).
- Increase the pressure of family and friends on the smoker to take the decision of quitting smoking.
- Increase motivation of the smoker to take the decision of quitting smoking.
Official Date:
- Globally: May 31st, 2017
- Locally: Ramadan 5th, 1438H
Theme of the World No Tobacco Day
Tobacco Threatens Us All
Targeted Groups:
- Smokers and their families.
- Workers in the health sector including physicians, health educators and social specialists.
- Anti-smoking societies and organizations such as the Anti-Smoking Charitable Association and Anti-Smoking Program.
- All members of society.
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