Dubai Tobacco Free Project Holds Felicitation Ceremony

Source from:  AME Info FZ LLC  04/26/2013

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) in cooperation with the Higher Colleges of Technology organized a ceremony for the Dubai Tobacco Free Project.

The ceremony, which was held today at the Higher Colleges of Technology campus, was attended by HE Engineer Essa Al Maidoor, Director-General of the DHA, Dr. Tayeb A. Kamali Vice Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology and Dr Howard Reed, Director of the Higher Colleges of Technology in Dubai as well a faculty members and students.

HE Eng. Al Maidoor thanked His Highness Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority for his support and patronage and highlighted the importance of this project which educates young adults with an aim to ensure they do not pick up the habit as well as encourages smokers to stub this harmful habit.

He called on all concerned parties to cooperate in order to achieve the goal of a tobacco free society.

HE Al Maidoor, Dr Tayeb and Dr Reed honoured the participants of the Dubai Tobacco Free competition which was organized for students of the Higher Colleges of Technology, Zayed University and other educational institutions. The students were honoured for various categories which included best video, best picture, best poster, best logo etc in their effort to depict the ill-effects of tobacco use.

Students from Higher Colleges of Technology were also honoured for adopting the initiative known as 'smoke-free' campus. In addition, students who had quit smoking as well as participants, partners and sponsors of the project were also felicitated.

HE Eng. Al Maidoor, Dr Tayeb and Dr Reed visited the events centre where students had organized an art exhibition depicting the health hazards of smoking, the exhibition also showcased campaigns on quit-smoking that were organized by the DHA and Dubai Municipality.

Al Maidoor thanked the management of the Higher Colleges of Technology and students for their active participation in this campaign and for their efforts to highlight the ill-effects of tobacco use.

Al Maidoor said that there is a need for all of us to adopt preventive programs as a key pillar to protect the community against potential diseases, especially in light of the socio economic, and behavioural changes in our societies.

He also stated that statistics from the World Health Organization confirmed that hazards of tobacco use are severe, as approximately 6 million deaths annually around the world are attributed to tobacco use, and in the absence of effective health programs to address this issue, it is likely that by 2030 the number of deaths due to tobacco use will be more than 8 million deaths annually.

Dr. Tayeb A. Kamali, Vice Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology appreciated the joint collaboration with the DHA to ensure such important health awareness messages reach the youth. He states that such health educational programs are essential to ensure a healthier future for the youth.

Dr Howard Reed, Director of the Higher Colleges of Technology in Dubai said that the management supports students to quit smoking with the aim to make the campus totally smoke free so that students can steer clear of this harmful habit.

Dr Reed appreciated the joint collaboration with the DHA which included setting up a DHA wellness centre at the premises and conducting smoking cessation programs for the students.

Dr. Hanan Obaid, Dubai Tobacco-Free project leader and head of community health services programmes, Primary Health Sector at the DHA thanked His Highness Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority for his support and patronage, she also thanked the management of the Higher Colleges of Technology for their cooperation.

She said the ceremony is an extension of the various stages of the project which included targeting several sections of society including government entities, the private sector, schools and universities in the Emirate.

The ceremony included a number of events such as a visual presentation on the achievements of the project as well as a presentation of a song known as ' a world without smoking,' as well as poems on quit smoking. Enditem