khaleejtimeonline, Wednesday 2 Jun 2010

WHO’s Dubai Declaration Shows The Way

Dubai, Asma Ali Zain:

Unified anti-tobacco policies for the region’s countries will be implemented within months as the World Health Organization issued the Dubai Declaration on Monday.

On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day that is marked each year on May 31, officials from the health body’s regional office issued the Dubai Declaration that will lead by example for all GCC countries. Policies under the declaration will be implemented throughout the region within months, said officials.

The declaration lists six anti-tobacco policies — the outcome of a two-day intensive workshop held in Dubai last week — that the WHO hopes all regional countries will implement.

Increase in prices, a blanket ban on smoking, a strong surveillance system, ban on tobacco advertisements, pictorial warnings on 50 per cent of tobacco packs, and offering cessation services to the public are among the policies listed in the declaration.

Officials from the health body said the declaration would prove to be a milestone in framing anti-tobacco laws for the region’s countries. “The declaration is indeed an important step towards formulating anti-tobacco policies in the region,” said Dr Hussein Al Gezairy, Regional Director, WHO, regional office for the Eastern Mediterranean.

As recommended by WHO, UAE health officials have demanded a blanket ban on smoking under a draft bylaw of the national tobacco law readied last week. Smokers will be required to walk 25 feet away from any building to smoke, replacing an earlier provision in law allowing for designated smoking places in enclosed areas.

“The Dubai Declaration is the basis for similar legislations in the region,” said Dr Tawfiq Khoja, Director-General of the Executive Board of the Health Ministers’ Council for GCC.

“Saudi Arabia is the fourth largest country consumer of tobacco in the world,” he said, adding that the country spent $300 million on buying tobacco products and up to SR 27 million on dealing with related diseases.

He also said the health ministers’ board has pushed for a price increase of at least 170 per cent. “This is being resisted on some fronts due to fears that it may lead to smuggling, but we are still pushing for the increase,” he said.

“Pictorial warnings have already been approved and will be implemented within months.”

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com