Hamdan Awards launches World No Tobacco Day

Tobacco use, which is the leading preventable cause of death in the world, is the only legal consumer product that kills one third to one half of those who use it, with an average of 15 years premature death for its victims.

Approximately, 1.8 billion young people aged 10-24, with more than, 85% found in developing countries, are targeted by the tobacco companies.

As the tobacco industry intensifies efforts to hook new, young and potential life-long tobacco users, the health of a significant percentage of the world's youth is seriously threatened by tobacco's deadly products. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance and childhood and adolescent experimentation can easily lead to a lifetime of tobacco dependence.

United Arab Emirates' citizens are morally obliged to prevent its youth from picking up this addictive habit.

The Community Medical Services Centre, a division of SHAMS, has taken the initiative to educate young generations about the dire consequences of smoking which might lead to their death or the death of their loved ones.

The campaign includes awareness programs and text messaging service through which the center is trying to deliver a valuable message to the people of the United Arab Emirates, smokers and non-smokers alike, about the dangerous effects of smoking.

The campaign will also reach people through television channels, radio channels and posters placed in schools, hospitals, shopping malls, business centers and other public places.

Dr. Laila Al Marzouqi, Cardiologist at Dubai Hospital and Chairperson of Community Medical Service Center said that most of heart and lung diseases are caused by smoking.

She added that younger generations have been targeted by tobacco manufacturers through appealing advertisements.

Dr. Laila asserted the importance of early education against this deadly phenomenon as most young boys and girls often imitate their favorite movie stars who smoke on screen, while others pick up the habit following a desire to experiment with smoking.

Professor Najib Al Khaja, Secretary General of the Award, expressed his optimism that the campaign will curb the number people who start smoking at early age.

He recommended a ban on such products and said he believed that educating the public on the fatal consequences of smoking will save many lives.

He said that heart and lung diseases resulting mainly from smoking are very common in the UAE. Prof.

Al Khaja called on the public and the government to cooperate with each other in order to make the UAE a tobacco free country.