While preparing the ‘Haj’ pilgrimage, the Saudi Ministry of Health is intensifying its campaign of prevention against the risks of tobacco: the goal is to make the Holy Cities completely tobacco-free with the lowest tobacco consumption in the world. Because one million of the five million people who die of smoking every year across the world are Muslim, Makkah is the ideal place to quit smoking. Haj is also an opportunity for smokers to quit smoking.

“A team of scouts and health officials have taken positions at the Grand Mosque in Makkah to raise awareness about the health risks caused by this ugly habit”

More than 15 billion cigarettes ($168 million) are smoked by Saudis each year: Saudi Arabia ranks as the fourth country importer and consumer of cigarettes. It is estimated about a quarter of KSA residents are smokers.

The anti-smoking campaign is relayed by the media (TV, internet). In our recent post, we already mentionned the smoking ban implemented by the MENA states. In addition to this smoking ban, KSA promotes healthy behaviour with advertisement campaigns among youth.

A criticised campaign in 2009 even offered an all-expenses-paid wedding for whom stops smoking. The slogan “Kicking the habit is on you and marriage is on us” was a bit sexist but he succeeded to make a buzz…

According to WHO findings, from 6 to 10% of family incomes are used to purchase tobacco. In the field, even if smoking is definitely “not allowed in Islam”, more than 400 fatwas forbide tobacco consumption, smoking ban is sometimes difficult to set up. These bans are not new and some states (i.e. United Arab Emirates or Syria) have already worked in the sense of a total ban before 2007. But behaviours are very difficult to change. In this way, connecting to the religious imperatives health promotion appears to be an interesting concern developed by the Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (WHO).

« Religion in many societies played a key role in education, which created additional opportunities for improved health education. » Dr M. H. Khayat, Senior Policy Adviser to the Regional Director, WHO, Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean

In spite of special rooms for smokers, sixteen smokers were nabbed in Jeddah’s international airport. As a religious center, the Guardian of Holy Places plays a key role in promoting health behaviour among the millions of Muslims coming for their Haj. We hope that these campaigns and these religious imperatives have a strong influence on smokers that they really stop smoking after pilgrimage.