Thursday, September 2, 2010

Children and women are set to be the target of an anti-smoking campaign warning them of the dangers of lighting-up.

Early menopause, miscarriage and premature birth are just some of the impacts on women’s health if they refuse to kick the habit and Dubai Health Authority (DHA) will be holding workshops, lectures and clinics to raise awareness.

Youngsters are also on the DHA’s hit list.

The boss of Dubai’s primary healthcare, Dr Ahmed Kalban, said figures from last year showed 13 per cent of children aged between 14 and 18 smoke - more girls than boys.

The DHA will be visiting pupils as young as 11 at schools across the emirate and giving out information leaflets and showing images of the damage cigarettes and shisha can do.

Kalban said: “We are trying to reach out to all sections of society, from schoolchildren to women, so that we can target various groups and inform them of the ill effects.”

The school visits are the third phase in the DHA’s 12-month campaign to slash the number of smokers.

The head of Nad Al Sheba Health Centre, Dr Hanan Obaid, said: “We will reach out to women by visiting women’s associations, clubs and colleges and provide free counselling sessions.

“We will ensure that all sessions will be considered confidential because many women may feel hesitant to attend these sessions.”

Peer pressure, a lack of awareness and a desire to prove independence are among the reasons driving girls under-18 to take up the deadly habit.
But it is not only cigarettes that are the danger.

Shisha pipes are also putting people at risk as the myth that it is safer than ordinary smoking continues to exist, despite experts warning it has the same potentially lethal side effects.

nichola.jones@7days.ae