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Tribune News Network
Doha
QATAR has made progress in tobacco control in the recent years, but more than 300 people die of tobacco-related diseases every year, a Qatar Cancer Society (QCS) official has said. The figure, however, is less than the average number of deaths in countries with high Human Development Index (HDI).
Dr Hadi Abu Rasheed, head of Professional Development and Scientific Research Department, said: “According to an estimate by The Tobacco Atlas, while over 312 people die in Qatar due to diseases caused by tobacco use annually, the economic cost of smoking is even higher amounting to QR801 million. This includes direct costs related to healthcare expenditures and indirect costs related to lost productivity due to early mortality and morbidity.”
He added, “ According to the 2015 statistics, tobacco killed five men every week and 32 women every year while one out of five persons
used tobacco in Qatar. In 2016, the situation improved and one out of seven people used tobacco in Qatar in 2016.”
Qatar Cancer Society continues to raise awareness about cancer and launched an electronic campaign titled ‘Time to Quit’, in the framework of World No Tobacco Day ( WNTD), which is observed on May 31 every year, and as part of the preventive measures against coronavirus (COVID-19).
Dr Rasheed added, “According to the available statistics, even though fewer people use smokeless tobacco on an average in Qatar than in high-HDI countries, 28,800 people still currently use smokeless tobacco in the country, indicating an ongoing public health challenge, including heightened levels of oral cancers.”
The Tobacco Atlas’ 2015 report reveals that 1.09 of male children (10–14 years) and 0.29 percent of females are using tobacco daily in Qatar, which is less than the average in countries with high HDI, he said.
The report reveals further that 18.2 percent of adult males and 0.1 percent of adult females (over 15 years) use tobacco daily in Qatar, which is again less than the average in high-HDI countries.
He said that 9.49 percent of male and 3.9 percent of female deaths were caused by tobacco use in Qatar, according to 2016 estimation.
He noted further that cigarette butts are the most commonly discarded pieces of waste worldwide. It is estimated that 927 tonnes of butts and packs wind up as toxic trash in Qatar each year.
He said this year’s World No Tobacco Day campaign focuses on protecting children and young people from tobacco use.
Dr Rasheed said, “According to the Global Audit Tobacco Survey, the exposure to second hand smoke in Qatar within restaurants, workplaces and households was 21.2 percent for men and 32.2 percent for women; 13.8 percent for non-Qataris and 8.3 percent for Qataris; and 16.8 percent for Qataris and non-Qataris, respectively.”
Doha
QATAR has made progress in tobacco control in the recent years, but more than 300 people die of tobacco-related diseases every year, a Qatar Cancer Society (QCS) official has said. The figure, however, is less than the average number of deaths in countries with high Human Development Index (HDI).
Dr Hadi Abu Rasheed, head of Professional Development and Scientific Research Department, said: “According to an estimate by The Tobacco Atlas, while over 312 people die in Qatar due to diseases caused by tobacco use annually, the economic cost of smoking is even higher amounting to QR801 million. This includes direct costs related to healthcare expenditures and indirect costs related to lost productivity due to early mortality and morbidity.”
He added, “ According to the 2015 statistics, tobacco killed five men every week and 32 women every year while one out of five persons
used tobacco in Qatar. In 2016, the situation improved and one out of seven people used tobacco in Qatar in 2016.”
Qatar Cancer Society continues to raise awareness about cancer and launched an electronic campaign titled ‘Time to Quit’, in the framework of World No Tobacco Day ( WNTD), which is observed on May 31 every year, and as part of the preventive measures against coronavirus (COVID-19).
Dr Rasheed added, “According to the available statistics, even though fewer people use smokeless tobacco on an average in Qatar than in high-HDI countries, 28,800 people still currently use smokeless tobacco in the country, indicating an ongoing public health challenge, including heightened levels of oral cancers.”
The Tobacco Atlas’ 2015 report reveals that 1.09 of male children (10–14 years) and 0.29 percent of females are using tobacco daily in Qatar, which is less than the average in countries with high HDI, he said.
The report reveals further that 18.2 percent of adult males and 0.1 percent of adult females (over 15 years) use tobacco daily in Qatar, which is again less than the average in high-HDI countries.
He said that 9.49 percent of male and 3.9 percent of female deaths were caused by tobacco use in Qatar, according to 2016 estimation.
He noted further that cigarette butts are the most commonly discarded pieces of waste worldwide. It is estimated that 927 tonnes of butts and packs wind up as toxic trash in Qatar each year.
He said this year’s World No Tobacco Day campaign focuses on protecting children and young people from tobacco use.
Dr Rasheed said, “According to the Global Audit Tobacco Survey, the exposure to second hand smoke in Qatar within restaurants, workplaces and households was 21.2 percent for men and 32.2 percent for women; 13.8 percent for non-Qataris and 8.3 percent for Qataris; and 16.8 percent for Qataris and non-Qataris, respectively.”
