Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
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Damascus, SANA-Every year on May 31, the World Health Organization (WHO) sounds the alarm bell over the consumption and use of tobacco, warning nearly one billion people against a grave menace blamed for claiming the lives of seven million people annually.
The focus of this year’s World No Tobacco Day is “Tobacco and Heart Disease” as tobacco is classified as the second cause of heart and other cardiovascular diseases after high blood pressure.
Joining the global drive to fight the use and consumption of tobacco, Syria is taking part with awareness-raising activities, lectures and theater performances in collaboration with NGOs, according to the Anti-Smoking Program of the Ministry of Health Dr. Abeer Obaid.
Dr. Obaid said in a statement to SANA’s health bulletin that the main topics of these events are in line with the general motto of the World Health Organization’s campaign this year.
“The primary target of these activities are the youth and teenagers, particularly school students, given the prevalence of this phenomenon among them. Having taken one cigarette often plunges one in the circle of addiction, and their ability to quit is weaker compared to older ones,” she explains.
The anti-smoking program resumed its awareness-raising activities last year after a hiatus during the war years given that the Health Ministry’s focus had shifted to other pressing issues including vaccinations and children food.
Manal
