Tobacco bans, taxes and regulations help build a healthier UAE

The region has traditionally lacked coherent rules and education around the dangers of tobacco. However, various policies and practices are now being put into place in line with a World Health Organization (WHO) initiative to help governments create a healthier world.

The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, one of the United Nations' most widely embraced treaties, and the first global treaty on health, obligates its more than 160 member countries to adopt a set of guidelines proven to effectively combat smoking. Governments around the globe have begun to recognize that tobacco use is an addictive epidemic that can and must be stopped. Member countries, including those in the Middle East and Africa are already putting measures in place to limit the uptake and use of tobacco.

In the UAE, the government has already shown it is serious about developing health policies to curb tobacco use, increase education and access to quitting treatments. For example, Smoking has been banned in all public places and further legislation is expected including a law that would ban smoking while driving private cars, as well as an increase to the price of a packet of cigarettes as part of a federal anti-smoking law.

The new tobacco-control law is expected to unify tobacco-control policies in the UAE as Abu Dhabi, Dubai and the Northern Emirates currently have different policies limiting tobacco use.

"The steps we are seeing being implemented in the UAE are a major sign that the country is moving in the right direction concerning how tobacco products are accessed and consumed,"

explains Prof. Mahmoud Marashi from Rashid Hospital in Dubai and Professor of Medicine at the Dubai Medical College.

"It sends a message to citizens that their health is a priority and tells the rest of the world that we are serious about tackling the use of tobacco."

In a recent WHO report, which presents the first comprehensive analysis of global tobacco use and control efforts, it was found that only 5% of the world's population live in countries that help protect their citizens from the harmful effects of tobacco by offering support services in addition to enacting other measures such as bans and taxation.

That number is even lower in developing countries, including those in the Middle East and Africa. According to the report, 80% of the more than eight million annual tobacco-related deaths are projected to occur in developing countries within the coming decades.

The MPOWER report outlines six key strategies that, if enacted by governments, will significantly lower the number of tobacco-related deaths worldwide and save trillions of dollars in healthcare expenditures. The MPOWER report offers governments realistic guidelines to combat the tobacco epidemic.

One of the six recommendations given by the MPOWER Report is for governments to 'Offer help to quit tobacco use'. While some countries are taking steps to create clinics and make treatments more accessible, ultimately it is up to the individual to want to seek help.

However, quitting smoking is difficult because of nicotine, the addictive drug found in tobacco. The best option is to seek help from a physician who can explain the various new treatments available which have been developed to help smokers reach their goal of quitting, and staying quit. Only a health care professional can give advice on which methods will work best for each individual smoker.

Some examples of measures recently taken from countries in Africa and the Middle East:
KSA - The holy cities of Mecca and Medina have been made smoke free.

Egypt - Egypt, the region's largest cigarette producer, has established smoke-free public places and mandated pictorial health warnings on tobacco packs.

Jordan - Announced a smoking ban in all public places in line with the government's plan to raise health awareness in the country.
Tunisia - The President has declared 2009 the year of focus on tobacco and the Ministry of Health has implemented a ban in all public places.