RIYADH, May 29 (KUNA) -- GCC states will work on a unified anti-tobacco and smoking strategy which will be within international criteria, stated an official here on Saturday.
Director General of the GCC Executive Council for Health Ministers Dr. Tawfeeq Khojah said in a press release, on the occasion of the 'World Day for Anti-Smoking' coinciding Monday, that tobacco was a dangerous product which should not be distributed commercially, noting that the council's 62nd meeting approved a strategy to combat smoking.
Financing the strategy was a must to protect future generations from such hazard, stated the official, adding that the general goal of this plan was to lessen the consumption of cigarettes and tobacco within the GCC region.
He revealed that the strategy would be set for a period of nine to 10 years and it would cost around USD three million. The national campaign of each GCC country would also be vital to the success of such plan, he affirmed.
Smoking and tobacco consumption were worrying issues within the GCC states societies and it should be consider a problem with the increasing numbers of smokers especially amongst teenagers, stated the official who called for spreading awareness on the hazards and dangers of smoking. - Kuna