The education department has kicked off its anti-smoking campaign at local schools, to inform students about the health risks associated with the habit.
Abdullah Bin Onais secondary school in Al-Rabwa district held a special illustrated lecture Tuesday to highlight the dangers of smoking and its negative effect on the youth.
Mohammed Al-Ghamedi, the principal of the school, said that he received a circular from the Jeddah Education department suggesting that all schools take part in the anti-smoking campaign.
Dr. Ali Al-Sahafi, a pediatric specialist at Al-Musaedia Hospital and a member of the Anti-Smoking Society in Jeddah, delivered the lecture.
Al-Sahafi started by highlighting the latest facts and figures about the dangers and deaths caused by smoking in Saudi Arabia and around the world.
The students and teachers were shocked when Al-Sahafi noted that Saudi Arabia was ranked as the fourth country in the world in terms of importing tobacco.
“There are around 15 million cigarettes sold in Saudi Arabia every year.”
He said most of the cigarettes were sold in the major cities, including Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam. “I came here to explain to you how smoking is causing damage to both the economy and the general health of people.”
He said smoking also has a negative impact on the environment including the ozone layer.
He added that smoking affects concentration. Studies have shown that students who smoke have 20 percent less ability to concentrate than non-smoking students.
The teachers at the school welcomed the lecture and said it should be held regularly at schools.
At the end of the lecture Al-Sahafi presented clips of some people who were severely affected by smoking. One case highlighted was that of a Saudi man in his 50s who had lost his voice because of throat cancer caused by his heavy smoking habit. This man now uses a vibrating device to speak.
MOHANNAD SHARAWI
Saudi Gazette