World No Tobacco Day
The youth are considered the most important segment contributing to the building and development of society, as they are a fundamental pillar in the advancement and progress of nations. If they are raised from a young age on values and ethics and are prepared scientifically and intellectually, they will be capable of shaping the future. It is also essential to invest in their energy, enhance their capabilities, and guide them on the right path in order to achieve ambitious goals for their nations.
For this reason, the health of young people is of utmost importance and requires the development of programs and initiatives aimed at preserving this vital asset, as it plays a significant role in supporting the well-being of families and society. It also makes it possible to harness their energy and potential in achieving sustainable development.
Therefore, focusing on the health of young people is a priority issue that requires incorporating this aspect into development strategies. Physical and mental health also require extensive awareness programs to elevate youth thinking towards protecting their health by expanding their knowledge of nutritional culture and preventive culture.
I would also like to highlight the importance of initiatives that focus on protecting youth, especially from tobacco use. There are many international efforts led by the World Health Organization aimed at reducing the percentage of young people who use tobacco. For this reason, the World Health Organization observes World No Tobacco Day on May 31 each year around the world, emphasizing its health risks and calling for effective policies to reduce its use. This is because young people's awareness of the dangers of smoking is an indicator of their likelihood to refrain from using any harmful substances that could damage their health.
The United Arab Emirates continues its efforts in combating and reducing smoking through the programs it launches and the clinics that have been established to raise awareness among the largest possible number of smokers to help them quit.
Many concerned centers focus on delivering awareness messages through social media platforms to encourage members of society to maintain their health and to urge them to use their various skills to convey preventive messages. The Ministry of Health is also making intensive efforts, including the development of a guiding manual for treating smoking addiction, which was formulated in a comprehensive and scientific methodological approach.
It also works on leveraging the best global practices and local expertise, with a focus on achieving sustainability in outcomes and societal impact. This guide is based on strategic pillars that include an integrated system of legislation.
Here, I would like to emphasize the importance of joint efforts between individuals and relevant entities to safeguard the health of young people and protect them from smoking, starting with the family, then the school, and the wider community.
Youth are the nation’s true wealth, and they are the ones who deserve every effort in their preparation. It is essential to unify efforts and collaborate to protect them so they can be capable of achieving the goals of sustainable development, which we cannot realize without the sustainability of their health.
Fatima bint Mubarak
