DUBAI // Believing that printing health warnings on cigarette packs do not deter smokers, a 14-year-old has created a box that will warn them about the dangers of tobacco.
Achilles Ash, an Indian who lives in Dubai, said his invention works like a musical birthday card. Whenever the smoker opens the packet, a microchip plays a message warning them of the health risks of smoking.
“It would be much more effective than the written warnings. They are also economically viable as I was able to get a chip from a card I bought for Dh2,” said Achilles, whose idea won him the Sharjah Award for Excellence in Education last year.
Achilles, a pupil at The International School of Choueifat in Dubai, has been against smoking since he was young.
He recalls a time when he was about five years old and he remembers being curious about what it was like to smoke. His grandfather took him to a shop and bought him a cigar.
“I tried a puff and that was it. I started coughing and found it very hard to breathe,” he said.
“Since that day, I have hated smoking.”
Three years ago, he began his campaign to discourage the habit in others.
“I was always fascinated by the musical cards and I had one at home. Suddenly, this idea stuck me and I bought a new musical card and took out the chip and tried working with it,” he said.
“My father brought me an old cigarette packet. I also attached the red light from the card on to the cigarette packet. So when the packet is opened, the red light shines to warn the person, and the recorded message starts.”
The young campaigner also distributes anti-smoking posters during his holidays.
Achilles’ father, Syan, said: “This issue is very important not only for young people, but also for everyone who smokes. They need to be made aware of the fact that they are harming not only themselves, but also their loved ones, who become passive smokers.”
arizvi2@thenational.ae
