Health official urges people to abide by Tobacco Law

Date: 5/28/2009
Source : THE PENINSULA

DOHA: A senior official of the Supreme Council of Health has called on the public to abide by the Tobacco Law in Qatar that bans smoking in enclosed public places.

The call came ahead of the World No Tobacco Day which falls on May 31. Qatar will mark the occasion with a series of activities including an exhibition at the City Center premises aimed at educating the public about the hazards of smoking. During the event, counseling will be offered for people who wish to quit smoking.

Director of Public Health at the Supreme Council of Health, Dr Mohammed Al Thani said, “Tobacco is the single most preventable cause of death in the world accounting for about five million deaths every year. All kinds of tobacco including cigarettes, shisha’ (water-pipe), and suwaikah (smokeless tobacco) are harmful to health and increase the risk of diseases such as cancer. Exposure to other people’s smoking (passive smoking) is also harmful to health and we urge members of the public to abide by the tobacco law of Qatar which prohibits smoking in enclosed public places.”

The exhibition at City Center is being held with the support of the World Health Organization World No Tobacco Day, together with the Primary Health Care Department, Hamad Medical Corporation, Anti-smoking Society, Qatar National Cancer Society, and the Ministry of Interior.

The World No Tobacco Day is celebrated internationally every year on May 31 to raise awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco. The theme this year is “Tobacco health warnings”, with an emphasis on promoting the use of effective warning messages especially picture warnings on packages of tobacco products.