AS many as one in four adults in Bahrain smoke despite efforts to highlight health risks in anti-tobacco awareness campaigns, health studies have revealed.
The latest Health Ministry survey on chronic diseases found 24 per cent of people aged between 19 and 65 were smokers.
Another found 14.6pc of people aged between 20 and 64 were smokers, with the highest group of 20pc aged between 20 and 29.
An earlier study in 2002 showed that 33 per cent of those aged from 13 to 18 had tried smoking.
Health Minister Dr Faisal Al Hamer yesterday announced that 8.4pc of people aged 20 to 64 smoked sheesha. The largest group smoking sheesha was 12.4pc and they were aged between 20 and 29.
"The ministry is taking the issue seriously, especially by promoting awareness among youth," said Dr Al Hamer.
"This year we have held 51 awareness campaigns, including 37 lectures and 12 workshops.
"We have also trained 245 health employees and 23 media representatives on issues related to anti-smoking issues."
The Health Minister was speaking at an honouring ceremony for supporters of anti-smoking campaigns which was held at the Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Institute of Technology, Busaiteen, yesterday.
The ceremony was held to mark World No-Tobacco Day, which takes place on May 31 every year. This year's theme is Tobacco-Free Youth.
Health Ministry head education director Dr Amal Al Jowder also spoke on the occasion.
Officials presented awards to non-governmental organisations, companies and individuals that have supported anti-smoking campaigns.
The event also featured an exhibition of leaflets, posters and drawings highlighting the harmful effects of smoking and various methods for quitting the habit.
Campaign
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Health Ministry's anti-smoking co-ordinator Dr Kadhem Al Hawaji said while Bahrain didn't have any figures to show if smoking had increased, studies in the GCC had revealed that more people were smoking now despite the efforts of anti-smoking campaigners.
"Tobacco companies are more powerful than us and reach small children," he told the GDN.
"Tobacco is cheap and easy to access, smoking is also accepted socially and children follow others. All this encourages small children to start smoking."
Dr Al Hawaji, who is also a family physician consultant, pointed out that Bahrain signed the World Health Organisation's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control last year.
"Each country has five years to change laws to control smoking and use of tobacco. The World Health Organisation is calling for a total ban on tobacco advertising," he added.
Meanwhile, American Mission Hospital (AMH) anti-smoking clinic head and general practitioner Dr Babu Ramachandran said he was worried about the increasing number of youth, especially girls who were taking up the habit.
"Youth should not take up smoking if we can break this marketing we will be able to bring down the number of smokers and consequent diseases," he said.
"We must highlight that people should not get into the habit. I'm planning to go to schools and clubs to raise awareness."
Dr Babu said sheesha smoking was also harmful to health and could even be worse than cigarettes because the chemicals from the charcoal and foil were carcinogenic.
He said while more research was needed, some studies had shown that sheesha smoking could spread communicable diseases among those sharing pipes.
Dr Babu was speaking on the sidelines of an anti-smoking awareness day held at Jawad Dome, Budaiya, yesterday.
The public event was held by AMH in collaboration with Novartis. A hundred people received health check-ups at the awareness drive and those wishing to give up smoking were given kits to help them kick the habit.
Of those attending, 23pc were heavy smokers and 17pc light smokers, while the other 60pc were non-smokers.
Those seeking advice on how to quit smoking can visit Hoora Health Centre on Sunday, Monday from 5pm to 9pm and on Wednesday's from 9am to 2pm and 5pm to 9pm or call 17292141.
To visit Dr Ramachandran anti-smoking clinic, call 17253447.
becky@gdn.com.bh
