In 2002, the two holy cities of Mecca and Medina in
Saudi Arabia were declared tobacco free by the Custodian of the
Two Holy Mosques. Since then, tremendous efforts are being exerted
by the Tobacco Control Programme, Ministry of Health and the
Anti-Smoking Committee (nongovernmental organization) towards
maintaining and ensuring the continuity of this initiative,
particularly during Hajj (pilgrimage).
Although Mecca and Medina are visited by numerous
Muslims throughout the year, during Hajj alone, nearly 4 million
Muslims visit the two holy cities. Special attention is therefore
given to producing materials specific to this season to raise
awareness about the health hazards associated with tobacco use as
well as general tobacco control related issues, as follows:
Billboards and stickers with
multiple anti-smoking messages are dispersed throughout
Mecca and Median as well as information on
cessation clinics, no smoking neon stands and the fatwa
(religious edict on the prohibition of tobacco use in Islam).
Buses carrying pilgrims have
tobacco free Hajj stickers posted on them.
At Mena, posters that read "you
are entering holly cities, do not smoke" are dispersed
everywhere.
Folders containing pamphlets,
flyers, postcards, stickers, pouches to place the “jamarat”
stones, etc. are disseminated to pilgrims during the two week
period.
All the materials displayed and disseminated during
Hajj are translated into six different languages to ensure
widespread reach across all nationalities that visit the two holy
cities at that time.
Historical trends suggest that both tobacco use and regulatory
initiatives affect men and women differently. Efforts need to be
focused on preventing the youth of today from beginning this
perilous habit. "Gender and tobacco control" takes a peek into the
future of tobacco control and suggests that successful regulation
will depend on enacting the provisions put forth by the WHO
Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. In addition, legislative
and regulatory bodies need to address gender and diversity
differences early, and establish gender-responsive infrastructure
for tobacco control.
WHO Study Group on Tobacco
Product Regulation (TobReg) report on the scientific basis of
tobacco product regulation
The Tobacco Free Initiative announces the release of a WHO
Study Group on Tobacco Product Regulation (TobReg) report on the
scientific basis of tobacco product regulation. This report
presents policy recommendations on the contents and design
features of tobacco products, their relationship to dependence
potential and consumer appeal; candy-flavoured tobacco products;
biomarkers of tobacco exposure and resulting health effects; and,
maximum limits for tobacco smoke toxicants. The Study Group hopes
that these recommendations will be useful to WHO Member States,
and national policymakers and regulators. The English printed
version is now available, and the other UN language versions will
be available soon.
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