Health Ministry Starts an Anti-Smoking Campaign

The Ministry of Health launched an awareness campaign about the dangers of tobacco on Wednesday, May 10th, in cooperation with the National Anti-Smoking Program.

The program aims to reduce the number of smokers in the country because of the negative health effects of smoking. 

The project will not only raise awareness about the dangers of smoking, but it will also work towards controlling the sales of tobacco, preventing smoking in public places, and stopping advertisements related to smoking. 

Head of the Health Promotion Department and member of the National Anti-Smoking Program Dr Abeer Al-Bahou  said that the campaign also "aims to encourage governments to end tobacco cultivation and switch to more sustainable crops that support farmers to improve food security and nutrition.”

A press conference was held where the member of the Dr Hussa Majed Al-Shaheen and head of the smoking cessation clinic at the Kuwait Society for Smoking and Cancer Control Maryam Abdul Mohsen Al-Otaibi discussed the negative effects of smoking in Kuwait for World Anti-Smoking Day. 

A study from the American Library showed 49.9% of men were smokers in Kuwait's population and 4.4% of women were smokers in the country's population. Furthermore, the study showed that 39.2% of men continued to smoke while 3.3% of women continued to smoke. 

Another study showed the relationship between cancer and smoking in GCC countries and in Kuwait, the study revealed that 16.3% of cancer cases were related to smoking. 

A study from 2020 showed that the rate of smoking cigarettes and shisha among university students was 46% in Kuwait. 

The Chairman of the Kuwait Society for Smoking and Cancer Control Dr Khalid Ahmed Al-Saleh shared that the Society had prepared a list of activities including lectures and exhibitions for World Anti-Smoking Day. A seminar will also be held on the negative effects of e-cigarettes on May 31st.