Health Minister patronises No Tobacco Day celebration

Bahrain yesterday marked World No Tobacco Day, which falls on May 31, in an effort to put an end to the smoking habit among the citizens and residents. 

Health Minister Sadiq Al Shehabi patronised a ceremony in this respect at Bapco Club in Awali. 

The event was attended by Undersecretary Dr. Aisha Mubarak Bu’unq, senior officials, Bapco Chairman Adel Almoayyed, leading corporate figures, consultants and employees. 

The minister revealed 28.3 per cent of smokers below 18 successfully quit the habit last year. According to the statistics compiled by the No Tobacco Clinics at Hoora, Hamad Kanoo and Hidd-based Bahrain Kuwait Health Centres, 35.8 pc of smokers above 18 years also gave up smoking. 

Al-Shehabi said the ministry would open within the coming two months the 4th No Tobacco Clinic at Hamad Health Centre. 

According to The World Health Organisation, tobacco-related illness is among the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced. 

About one person dies every six seconds around the world due to tobacco-related disease. This is equivalent to almost 6 million people a year. 

This number is estimated to exceed 8 million people a year by 2030, with more than 80 pc of these preventable deaths occurring among people living in low-and middle-income countries.