His Excellency the Health Minister, Chairman of the National Tobacco Control Committee, Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah has launched a mobile app for monitoring and reporting violators of anti-smoking regulations. Through the app, anyone can report any violation of the regulations in public places and selling tobacco to those under 18 years of age. Fines amounting to SR 5,000 will be imposed on commercial firms violating the regulations. In addition, the app can be used to report any clip displaying cigarette or shisha smoking on any local television channel.
This came during the fifth national forum of the agencies working in the field of combating tobacco held yesterday (Monday), at MOH Headquarters. The forum reviewed the achievements made by the agencies working in the anti-smoking field and the challenges facing them, the complementary role of the non-profit sector and the National Tobacco Control Committee and the achievements of anti-smoking programs.
In this vein, MOH's 262 anti-smoking clinics aim to provide therapeutic and awareness services for the target smokers and non-smokers, to highlight anti-smoking regulations, to provide counseling and health education, as well as reducing the percent of passive smoking. The anti-smoking program aims to promote the health of the Saudi community and protect them against diseases and their complications through raising the community's awareness about harmful effects of smoking. The program's achievements contributed to raising awareness of all community members and health professionals about smoking harms and risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing diseases.
It is noteworthy that the anti-smoking campaign launched by MOH at the beginning of last Ramadan increased the number of visitors to anti-smoking clinics by 321%.