The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has launched a tobacco-free workplace guide as part of its ongoing efforts to combat smoking in all forms, protect community members from the public health dangers associated with smoking, and improve the quality of life in work environments.
The handbook, developed by the Ministry's National Tobacco Control Program, offers a comprehensive explanation of the measures implemented to create a tobacco-free workplace.
It outlines the detrimental effects of smoking on individual health and the environment, along with the benefits of quitting. Additionally, the guide provides practical instructions for managers and employees on establishing a smoke-free environment, detailing procedures for handling violations, and offering steps to assist employees in quitting smoking.
The UAE is considered one of the leading countries in tobacco control, having enacted Federal Law No. 15 of 2009 on Combating Tobacco, followed by comprehensive executive regulations governing all tobacco-related activities. These regulations aim to ban smoking in enclosed public spaces and prohibit the use of tobacco in any form in various public areas, including government buildings, healthcare and educational institutions, and public transportation, among others.
Effective measures
Dr. Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Public Health Sector, stated:
"MoHAP’s Tobacco-Free Workplace Guide will be used as a key resource and tool to assist both government and private entities in fostering a workplace free from the use of all tobacco products. It also comes in line with the UAE's commitment to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), ratified in 2005, aiming to implement effective measures that protect against exposure to tobacco smoke in workplaces, public transportation, and public places."
Reducing tobacco consumption
Dr. Hussein Al Rand outlined MoHAP's efforts to combat tobacco use through monitoring, cessation services, public education, and advertising bans, supporting excise tax implementation, and achieving a reduction in tobacco consumption from 11.1% in 2010 to 9.1% in 2018, aligning with the Global NCD Action Plan 2025.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
