Tobacco.org

Qatar’s anti-tobacco drive gets in top gear 

Marking the World No Tobacco Day, yesterday, Qatar kicked off a year long programme enhancing its drive against smoking. With at least 40 percent of the adult population and 22 percent of youngsters in Qatar being smokers, the rate is double the numbers in Europe. . . .

In Qatar, the annual smoking rate is more than 12,000 cigarettes per smoker, according to a national study. At least one billion cigarettes are used each year with a spending above $65m, here. Also the value of medical services provided for the treatment of diseases associated with smoking reached more than $150m, in addition to the government spending on service agencies responsible for monitoring imports of tobacco.

“Qatar’s anti-smoking activities are not just celebrations,” said Dr Sheikh Mohammed Al Thani, Director of Public Health Department at the SCH.

“World No Tobacco Day is a strong start for a comprehensive year-long programme set by the tobacco control unit in Qatar. Controlling tobacco and its derivatives is just the first step into monitoring similar materials of its kind,” he said at the Supreme Council of Health symposium marking the anti-tobacco day.

Jump to full article »