Rabat – This year Morocco joins many countries globally in giving smokers the tools and support to ‘commit to quit’ on World No-Tobacco Day.
The Ministry of Health has announced that the campaign will make efforts to educate the population on the dangers of smoking and the benefits associated with quitting. The campaign, starting May 31 and ending June 30, will encourage nationwide smoke-free spaces.
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, raising awareness of the dangers of tobacco use has never been more important. “Smokers have up to a 50% higher risk of developing severe disease and death from COVID-19” says Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
Thus, new vigour has been instilled in the campaign in the last year since it’s conception in 1987.
World No Tobacco Day 2021 will be conducted under the slogan ‘Commit to Quit’, with a key component of the campaign being focused on improving smoking cessation resources and policies around the world. The fight against tobacco in Morocco echoes and supports these global efforts to strengthen policies related to smoking cessation.
A survey from March 2017 showed that 13.4% of the adult population in Morocco were current users of tobacco. They also revealed that 26.9% of men were users and only 0.4% of women.
Furthermore, the effects of tobacco use aren’t restricted to the individual. In Morocco 16.5% of adults are exposed to second-hand smoke at home, and 24.1% of adults are exposed to second-hand smoke in the workplace.
HRH Princess Lalla Salma’s Foundation for the Prevention and Treatment of Cancers lists various smoking cessation centres across Morocco. In the Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaër region alone, there are 38 listed health centres which can offer professional support and advice to those attempting to quit smoking.
If funds permit, the WHO is set to carry out a survey in 2022, in order to shed light on current tobacco use and non communicable disease transmission in Morocco. This will hopefully demonstrate that annual awareness campaigns have been successful in endeavours to reduce national tobacco consumption.
In light of the pandemic, more tobacco users than ever are making the choice to quit smoking. Sufficient cessation resources, and awareness programmes which debunk harmful claims made by the tobacco industry are vital if the Ministry of Health is to support a population plagued by the effects of both first and second hand smoking.
