Maldives: HPA Concerned over Display of Hookah Smokers

Source from:  Haveeru Daily (mv) 01/19/2015

Health Protection Agency (HPA) has expressed concern over the display of hookah smokers at the Cultural Festival organized by Maldives Broadcasting Corporation (MBC).

People smoking hookahs were seen during the Festival, to showcase dying age-old Maldivian traditions and customs. Some television channels have been broadcasting such scenes without the required advisories on the harmful effects of smoking - in direct violation of Article 14 of Tobacco Act.

HPA epidemiologist Dr Aishath Aroona said on Saturday that the institution had held discussions with relevant authorities, with hookah smoking being displayed in such a promotional manner.

She said that only 'good- customs should be promoted as part of Maldivian culture, while smoking the hookah - being harmful to health, was not a good custom.

She stressed that promotion of smoking to youngsters and the general population was forbidden by law.

"Given that smoking has numerous harmful health, social and economic effects - it cannot be considered a good custom. I thank organizers of the Cultural Festival as they agreed to rectify their mistake regarding this harmful habit," said Dr Aroona.

The HPA official said that promotion of smoking as a custom paved way for popularity for the habit within society.

She said that the fact that many youngsters smoked the hookah despite its many harmful effects was of great concern to the institution.

MBC Director Abdullah Rameez said on Saturday that they had received HPA's concerns, and that scenes of hookah smoking would no longer be seen in the Cultural Festival.

He said that the scenes had not been shown during their own broadcast of the Festival, and that MBC followed certain guidelines regarding broadcast of such scenes. Enditem