The Director General of the Executive Bureau of the GCC Council of Health Ministers expressed the willingness of the Executive Bureau to support all efforts made to combat the smoking pandemic, which is spreading among all sectors of the Gulf populations. He said tobacco companies are making all efforts to penetrate the Gulf markets by following twisted methods to stimulate the youths towards the habit of smoking. "Our war against the tobacco companies must continue", he said "We must uncover their immoral ways and force them to deviate from their ruining mission".
According to Dr. Khoja about 7000 people are dying due to smoking in the Kingdom every year, of whom about 13% women smokers, whereas also, more than 5000 people die from negative smoking. The number of women smokers exceeds 600 thousand.
He said the GCC states have approved the WHO frame agreement for combating smoking. The agreement has consequently been included within the national laws of relevant states.
"The GCC Council of Health Ministers condemns the immoral methods followed by tobacco companies in promoting for their tobacco products", he said. "We refuse organizing conferences and exhibitions or participating in sports competitions for such purposes. The Council of Health Ministers has issued a number of resolutions and recommendations in this regard".
Dr. Khoja valued the judicial actions taken by the Saudi Ministry of Health against tobacco companies, calling upon other GCC countries to adopt the same.
He congratulated the Minister of Health Dr. Hamad Al-Mane on the formation of the National Committee for Combating Smoking in accordance with the resolution of the Council of Ministers No. (46), dated 01/0281428. "The committee convened its first meeting in the first week of Shawal 1428 under the chairmanship of the Minister of Health", he said. "A work team has been formed for establishing a national strategy, in line with the provisions of the GCC plan for combating tobacco".
He said the Executive Bureau is intending to hold its thirteenth GCC symposium on combating smoking in Bahrain during April 2008.
"We appreciate the actions taken by the Minister of Health Dr. Hamad Al-Mane whatever their results might be", he said. "They represent a wise step towards respecting and defending the dignity of the Saudi citizen. They also confirm the commitment of the highest health official towards combating smoking".
He emphasized the importance of being aware that even our success in forcing tobacco companies to pay the claimed amounts should not be the end of our efforts in dealing with the smoking problem. "We must coordinate the works of all sectors in dealing with it", he said.