The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is taking part in the World No-Tobacco Day, celebrated every year on May 31st. This year's No-Tobacco Day falls on Thursday, Rajab 10th, 1433 H.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has devoted this year's celebration to uncovering the numerous tactics and tricks and deceit adopted by tobacco industry to proceed on promoting its products for the youth and teenagers, as well as the unstinting endeavors meant to demolish or ameliorate the efforts exerted by the governmental and non-governmental institutions working in the field of anti-smoking.
In this spirit, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has issued a reference guide to be followed by those working in the field of anti-smoking in the Kingdom, at the level of both individuals and institutions, to learn how to put into effect the awareness campaign against smoking, and make people well aware of the deceit of tobacco industry. In doing so, the Ministry seeks to overcome the prevalence of such an unhealthy habit, thus conforming to the theme of this year's World No-Tobacco Day: “Stop Tobacco Industry Interference”.
Besides, the Ministry has developed a number of programs and plans meant to give rise to this year's World No-Tobacco Day campaign; including intensifying people's awareness of the deceit performed by tobacco producers, to avoid falling into their trap, as well as raising health workers' experience on how to reveal and overcome this deceit. That's to be added to protecting the society from the harm caused by those producers, who, being self-centered and profit-oriented, pay attention for nothing but accumulating their earnings at the expense of people's health.
On this occasion, the Director of the MOH Anti-Smoking Program, Dr. Majed bin Abdullah Al-Menaif, has affirmed that the Ministry is showing keen interest in the activation and promotion of this year's World No-Tobacco Day campaign. “To that end,” he said, “the Ministry has put forward a number of preventive programs and plans meant to raise people's awareness of the serious dangers posed by this harmful, unhealthy habit.”
It didn't escape Dr. Al-Menaif's notice to point out that tobacco producers embrace such deceitful tricks as promoting the so-called “light” or “moderate” cigarettes, and appointing special, attractive packages for them, where in fact they are as harmful as any other type of cigarettes.