The Ministry of Health and Community Protection urged smokers to quit smoking, warning of the dangers it poses to their health and the diseases it causes such as heart and arterial diseases, cancer, diabetes, and mental illness. It also warned of the dangers of promoting electronic smoking products as less harmful alternatives to traditional cigarettes in the absence of any scientific evidence for that.
In a speech on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day, which falls on May 31 of each year, the Ministry confirmed that it has developed a comprehensive strategy aimed at combating tobacco use and achieving a smoke-free environment, through implementing a national program for this purpose, and including reducing tobacco consumption among national health indicators. This approach is considered one of its main priorities.
The Ministry explained that, thanks to the directives of the wise leadership, the UAE joined the World Health Organization Framework Convention for Tobacco Control in 2005, as it is one of the leading countries at the regional and international levels in this field. This agreement includes measures to reduce the demand for tobacco, and to ensure a reduction in its production and distribution.
In addition, the Ministry issued legislation supporting efforts to combat smoking, and stressed the importance of applying the Tobacco Control Law No. (15) of 2009 and its executive regulations to all electronic tobacco products, and working to organize awareness campaigns to warn against these products.
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