Health Ministry to launch anti-smoking campaign

AMMAN — The Ministry of Health is scheduled to launch a national awareness campaign to fight smoking, a ministry official said Wednesday. 

The launch of the campaign should coincide with the World No Tobacco Day, held annually on May 31, ministry spokesperson Hatem Azrui told The Jordan Times, adding that the campaign will be organised in cooperation with the Royal Health Awareness Society and civil society organisations. 

The initiatives will mostly target young people, with a focus on school and university students. 

Azrui said that awareness campaigns in Jordan tend to be very traditional, citing the “repulsive” photos on cigarette packets. This year, the minister insisted on the importance of using social media and new technology to reach young people, the largest portion of smokers in Jordan. 

International records state that smoking is responsible for the death of one out of eight individuals, statistics which can be applied in Jordan as well, noted Azrui. 

“There is no magical solution or awareness pattern that can give full results,” Azrui highlighted. 

The proposed amendments of the Public Health law aim to tighten penalties and punishments on smokers in public places, which will target tribal councils, as well as owners of facilities that allow minors to smoke, such as cafes which serve arghileh, the spokesperson added. 

The ministry has appointed 566 liaison officers who will be trained to prevent smoking in public places and better implement the Public Health Law. 

“The ministry is serious about fighting this plague which affects the health of individuals and society as a whole,” he said.