Kuwait to host global conference on impact of smoking on October 27
The two-day event will focus on tobacco economics, highlighting its role in promoting smoking, especially among children, and its dangers to future generations.
• The international conference on smoking titled, “The Smoking Scourge and Conflicts of Interest,” hosted by the Kuwait Society for Smoking and Cancer Control, will be held under the patronage of Minister of Health Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadhi.
The Kuwait Society for Smoking and Cancer Control announced the upcoming international conference titled “The Smoking Scourge and Conflicts of Interest,”scheduled for October 27 and 28, under the patronage of Minister of Health Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadhi, according to Al Jarida newspaper.
Dr. Khaled Ahmed Al-Saleh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the association and President of the conference, stated that the conference will highlight the economics of tobacco, a factor driving many companies to promote tobacco industries and attract new groups, including children, to smoking habits, which pose a danger to future generations.
He pointed out that the World Health Organization has held workshops on this subject, emphasizing the need to find ways to address these economic factors to reduce demand for the tobacco industry and its consumption.
Al-Saleh added that Kuwait is one of the first countries to adopt this global strategy. He noted that according to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, about 5.8 million tons of tobacco were produced worldwide in 2022. Additionally, the World Health Organization has stated that the smoking epidemic is one of the largest public health threats the world has ever faced.
He explained that the number of tobacco users is currently estimated at 1.25 billion people worldwide, noting that smoking is responsible for the deaths of more than seven million people due to direct tobacco use and an additional 1.3 million due to secondhand smoke inhalation.
For her part, Dr Hussa Majed Al-Shaheen, a member of the Board of Directors of the association and the Supreme Committee, stated that the conference will host a constellation of experts in combating smoking from various countries, particularly in the field of tobacco economics at the Gulf, Arab, and international levels.
She explained that the conference program includes sessions focusing on protecting public health from the tobacco industry, as well as government and non-profit efforts to confront these industries. A session will also be dedicated to reviewing successful experiences from Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Arab nations in raising awareness and providing psychological and therapeutic support for smokers.
