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UAE Yet to Create Complete Smoke-free Environment

DUBAI - Despite key strides in implementing tobacco control policies sans legislation, the UAE is yet to take effective measures to create a smoke-free public environment as per the World Health Organisation’s requirements.

The second Global Tobacco Epidemic 2009 report released by the world health body on Wednesday urged all countries to implement stricter checks and smoke-free laws citing the fact that more than 94 per cent of people worldwide remained unprotected from exposure to tobacco smoke.

“Urgent action is needed to protect people from death and illness caused by exposure to tobacco smoke.

There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke.

Therefore, action is needed by governments to protect their people,” said WHO Assistant Director-General for Non-communicable Diseases and Mental Health Dr Ala Alwan.

As per the report, the UAE is yet to implement policies that can reduce exposure to second-hand smoke in its public transport system, pubs and bars and all other indoor public places.

A federal law in this regard is currently pending cabinet approval.

“Even without a legislation we have managed to implement such policies in universities, government offices and hospitals,” Dr Wedad Al Maidoor, Head of the National Tobacco Control Committee, said, commenting on
 the report.

“And once the legislation is rolled out, more people will be encouraged to implement these measures,” she added.

The report also adds that currently 31.6 per cent of UAE youth are exposed to smoke outside their home while 25.3 per cent are exposed to smoke at 
their homes.

According to the report, the UAE is also among the eight countries in the region that has made progress in tobacco control by implementing a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertisement.

However, the regional head of the world body urged countries to take note of their national obligations under the Framework Convention of Tobacco Control and develop effective tobacco-control policies.

“There is a need to have uniform tobacco-control policies across the region if we are to save our people from the harms of tobacco,” said Dr Hussein A. Gezairy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean.

Djibouti, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Sudan and Yemen are among the other countries that have strictly enforced tobacco advertising.

He also said the GCC countries were revising their specifications for pictorial warnings which will very soon be a requirement.

The report also pointed out that only 5.4 per cent of the world’s population was covered by comprehensive smoke-free laws by the end of 2008 — a rise from the 3.1 per cent observed in 2007.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.ae