Anti-smoking drive targets younger generation

BY PMA RASHEED

The Gulf Today, 7 April 2010

The young generation of Dubai has been urged to quit the dangerous habit of smoking, as the rate of young people is the highest out of the total smokers in the emirate.

Students in the middle schools, high schools, colleges and universities will be given lessons on the risks of smoking and its adverse effects on the individual as well as the society in a two-month long educational drive titled ‘Youth without Smoking’ kicked off by Dubai Municipality (DM) on Monday.

According to Health officials at the municipality, the youth starts the practice of smoking cigars or shisha during the early stages of their life.

The civic body’s initiative will culminate with the World No Tobacco Day on May 31 conducted with three sporting events, involving ten schools of the emirate.

“A team from the municipality clinic during the campaign will conduct medical examinations free-of-charge for young people and make them aware of the seriousness of the hazards of smoking, which threatens their health and their future,” a spokesperson of the Dubai Municipality (DM) said.

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and Dubai Medical College will also be part of the civic drive in coordination with the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).

“The team will be present at many of the sports tournaments that are conducted during the period as well as go to many educational institutions in the emirate. It will provide free services to check carbon dioxide and examine the lungs and offer free medical consultation on different types of treatment which includes awareness therapies, conventional treatment using tablets and other medicines and new methods of treatment such as laser and other magnet based devices,” he explained.

According to him, the anti-smoking campaign emphasises on the importance of a healthy lifestyle for the target category based on health habits, healthy food, and sports.

“The campaign started by organising a medical exhibition and free medical check up for smokers and non-smokers, such as checking the lungs, testing the percentage of carbon dioxide for students, who participated in the Hamdan Bin Mohammed School Games Championship,” said the DM spokesperson.

“The campaign will continue to cover some of the universities like the Hamdan University, Dubai University, Al Wasl School, Sharjah American School and Al Khansa School,” he added.