Seize the opportunity to say no to tobacco, smokers urged

AMMAN — HH Princess Dina Mired on Monday said that everyone in Jordan has the opportunity to quit smoking, especially since the situation related to smoking has become alarming.

Inaugurating a new smoking cessation clinic in the Ministry of Health building dedicated to employees who wish to quit smoking, which coincided with World No Tobacco Day marked on May 31 annually, Princess Dina said that protecting “our” health has never been as important as it is during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

She indicated that Jordan is the first country in the world to benefit from a donation of nicotine replacement therapy provided by Johnson & Johnson to consumer health through its partnership with the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) initiative “Reaching the stage of quitting smoking” through alternatives.

The donation, at an estimated retail value of some $1 million, aims to support thousands of Jordanians and refugees to quit smoking during the pandemic and beyond.

For his part, Minister of Health Feras Al Hawari said that smoking is one of the most important factors for non-communicable diseases and cancers, and causes complications on the heart, lungs and other vital organs, which leads to death, stressing the need to provide facilities and develop policies to help quit smoking.

He added that Jordan was able to provide the capabilities for the public to quit smoking by implementing the necessary programmes and policies, campaigns to enforce the provisions of Public Health Law, raising awareness on the dangers of smoking and all kinds of tobacco products, and opening 23 clinics.

Hawari praised the role of WHO as an important and strategic partner of the ministry in supporting its efforts to combat smoking and the roles of other partners, mainly the King Hussein Cancer Centre and the Royal Society for Health Awareness.

On her part, WHO Representative to Jordan Maria Cristina Profili reiterated “the importance of tobacco control for Jordan to promote healthy lives and the well-being of all and at all ages, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic”. 

“The World No Tobacco Day 2021 campaign this year aims to empower and support tobacco users on their journey to quit, this is a great opportunity for all smokers,” she said.