Dr Ala Alwan, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, presents award to representative of H.H. Sheikh Sultan Bin Muhammad Alqasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, and next to him H.E. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture
18 March 2015 - On the opening day of the 16th World Conference on Tobacco or Health in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, WHO recognized H.H. Sheikh Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, for his pioneering efforts in tobacco control efforts in the Region. Dr Ala Alwan, WHO’s Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, who presented the award to the representative of H.H., told the conference that by curbing access to and controlling tobacco, countries would witness a dramatic reduction in the number of premature deaths from noncommunicable diseases, namely lung and heart diseases, cancers and diabetes.
WHO is working with countries worldwide to help them implement MPOWER measures to monitor tobacco use and prevention policies; protect people from tobacco smoke; offer help to quit tobacco use; warn about the dangers of tobacco; enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; and raise taxes on tobacco.
H.H. Sheikh Alqasimi has committed himself to protecting and saving the lives of people in his Emirate and has issued multiple laws over the years banning:
- smoking in governmental institutions and related facilities.
- smoking in enclosed public spaces.
- smoking in universities, declaring them smoke-free institutions.
- the sale of tobacco products in grocers near schools and residential areas.
With His Highness’s leadership, waterpipe use has also been banned in Sharjah. This is a shining example not just for the Region, but for the whole world. Waterpipe use is an alarming and rising trend in the Region and the world. The prevalence of waterpipe use among 13–15 year old school students in the Region ranges from 1.5% in some countries to almost 35% in others. What is more alarming is that the Region is the leader in waterpipe consumption among youth worldwide.
Go to conference website
Related link
Tobacco use declining but major intensification efforts needed in reduction and control efforts
Dr Ala Alwan, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, presents award to representative of H.H. Sheikh Sultan Bin Muhammad Alqasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, and next to him H.E. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture
18 March 2015 - On the opening day of the 16th World Conference on Tobacco or Health in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, WHO recognized H.H. Sheikh Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, for his pioneering efforts in tobacco control efforts in the Region. Dr Ala Alwan, WHO’s Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, who presented the award to the representative of H.H., told the conference that by curbing access to and controlling tobacco, countries would witness a dramatic reduction in the number of premature deaths from noncommunicable diseases, namely lung and heart diseases, cancers and diabetes.
WHO is working with countries worldwide to help them implement MPOWER measures to monitor tobacco use and prevention policies; protect people from tobacco smoke; offer help to quit tobacco use; warn about the dangers of tobacco; enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; and raise taxes on tobacco.
H.H. Sheikh Alqasimi has committed himself to protecting and saving the lives of people in his Emirate and has issued multiple laws over the years banning:
- smoking in governmental institutions and related facilities.
- smoking in enclosed public spaces.
- smoking in universities, declaring them smoke-free institutions.
- the sale of tobacco products in grocers near schools and residential areas.
With His Highness’s leadership, waterpipe use has also been banned in Sharjah. This is a shining example not just for the Region, but for the whole world. Waterpipe use is an alarming and rising trend in the Region and the world. The prevalence of waterpipe use among 13–15 year old school students in the Region ranges from 1.5% in some countries to almost 35% in others. What is more alarming is that the Region is the leader in waterpipe consumption among youth worldwide.
Go to conference website
Related link
Tobacco use declining but major intensification efforts needed in reduction and control efforts
