Kuwait launches anti-smoking campaign to safeguard children

The Kuwaiti Ministry of Health will launch an anti-smoking awareness campaign on Thursday aimed at safeguarding children from the dangers of tobacco, the Kuwait News Agency reported on Tuesday.

Collaborating with various ministries and state agencies, the campaign will underscore the critical need to protect vulnerable populations from the hazards of smoking.

Dr. Abeer Al-Baho, director of the ministry’s Health Promotion Department, said the awareness drive will be inclusive by reaching out to men, women, and children alike.

The campaign will highlight the detrimental effects of smoking, shed light on the legal ramifications for those found to be smoking in unauthorized areas, and particularly safeguard individuals with health vulnerabilities, minors, and the environment.

Al-Baho stressed the campaign’s pivotal role in curbing smoking-related diseases and fatalities, emphasizing the direct and indirect harm caused to the lungs and heart and the links with many types of cancer.

Scheduled to run until May 31, coinciding with World No Tobacco Day, the campaign will span all six Kuwaiti governorates, featuring demonstrations that show the hazards of smoking.

Disturbing statistics from the World Health Organization reveal a threefold increase globally in e-cigarette usage among children aged 13-15 compared to adults, prompting urgent warnings about the risks posed by tobacco in its various forms, including traditional smoking and e-cigarettes.