Dubai: Doctors, Parents Hail Anti-tobacco Bylaws

Source from:  Khaleej Times  06/04/2013

A number of parents and doctors welcomed the Cabinet approval for the bylaws of the federal Anti-Tobacoo Law on Monday, saying they were in favour of the public.

Under the bylaws passed on Monday, a fine of Dh500 will be imposed on those who smoke with children under 12 in the car. The amount would double in case of a repeat violation.

Besides protecting public health by banning smoking in enclosed places, the bylaws allow authorities to fine for advertising and promoting tobacco as well as selling and smoking in banned public places including public transport. Those who violate the ban on advertising will be fined between Dh100,000 to Dh1 million while jail terms of up to two years will be up held for those who import tobacco without proper warnings.

Allison D'Souza, mother of two young kids, said, "It's a very good initiative because the smoke inside the car doesn't go anywhere. If it's not the law, they will not stop, now, they have no choice; kids' health will become better and (that of) the smokers too."

Dr Najah Mustapha, School Health Services Director of the Ambulatory Healthcare Services (AHS), said, "Whatever they do to really stop kids from getting exposed to smoking is something good and commendable (because) passive smoking is there. Passive smoking gets nicotine in their blood and they'll have the craving for it. One of our major initiatives next year is based on smoking — to stop adolescents from smoking. We will be targeting Cycle 3 (Grades 9-12) aged 15-16 where statistics showed this is the age when they start smoking or at the risk of starting to smoke."

S.A. Ilyas from Pakistan, a smoker, said, "It's good for the future generation but not for the smokers. It's good not to smoke near children anyway, not just inside the car or the house. I only smoke when I'm alone in my car and only on long trips. And when my kids are with me in the car, I don't smoke."

However, according to Dr Eeva Lisa Langille, head pediatrician and neonatologist at Burjeel Hospital, Abu Dhabi, children get exposed even when smoking is not carried out in their presence. "Second-hand smoking exposure in the car is very common here. Children will get exposed even when they are not around when you smoke as smoke and particles stay in the car or in any place where the child will be."

Dr Langille said she is currently treating a three-month-old baby for congestion and rhinitis (inflammation inside the nose due to an allergen) as a result of second-hand smoking coming through the air-conditioning duct of their flat. The infant has a history of asthma from the mother. "Second-hand smoking can cause congestion and rhinitis and (it) has been implicated in asthma in children," she pointed out.

Dr Salam Jassim Hussein, paediatric consultant and head of the neonatal intensive care unit at Al Noor Hospital on Airport Road in Abu Dhabi, said, "It's a very great move. Smoking in a closed environment like inside the car or house is very dangerous especially for children as this will cause nasal allergy and asthma, and will aggravate asthma attack." Enditem