UAE: How special programme helped 4,300 people quit smoking over 2 years

Abu Dhabi - SEHA said its recent success rate is between 55 and 60 per cent — double the global rate of 30 per cent.

More than 4,300 people have managed to quit smoking since 2019, thanks to smoking cessation programmes organised by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA).

The authority said smokers were encouraged to quit the habit through a specially designed programme, which is available at six facilities across its network.

The facilities are staffed by experts with extensive experience in raising awareness around the harmful effects of smoking and helping community members quit.

SEHA said its recent success rate among those enrolled in the programme is between 55 and 60 per cent — double the global rate of 30 per cent.

Dr Bushra Al Ghailani, Family Medicine Specialist, Baniyas Healthcare Center, said: “World No Tobacco Day serves as a reminder to the community of the harms of smoking, with a special message that quitting is not impossible. Today is the perfect opportunity for members of the community who smoke to make the decision to quit, seeking support from healthcare professionals and their loved ones, as they embark on the journey to better health.”

When participants are first enrolled into the programme, they begin with a consultation where a healthcare professional speaks with the new-joiner to understand their journey of smoking and explores their commitment to quitting.

The participant then undergoes examination, including an exhaled carbon monoxide test that evaluates the level of carbon monoxide (a poisonous gas that stops oxygen from reaching vital organs) in their body and that results from smoking and/or inhaling second-hand smoke.