ABU DHABI // The incidence of tobacco-related diseases continues to increase in this country, doctors said at a conference in the capital on Wednesday.
Speaking at the World Conference on Tobacco or Health, Dr Wael Al Mahmeed, a cardiologist at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, said tobacco was linked to many non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes, cancer and lung problems.
“Numbers of these [diseases]are not going down in this region. I think we could do with more awareness,” said Dr Al Mahmeed, who is president of the conference. He cited the example of Turkey, which reduced the use of shisha by an outright ban in public places. “They have done a great job of controlling it. If we can follow their model, it will be great,” he said.
The conference also heard from members of the World Health Organisation.
Dr Ala Alwan, regional director of the WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean office, said many premature deaths across the globe could be prevented through tackling the four main risk factors – unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, alcohol and tobacco.
“By curbing access to and controlling, with a view to ending the addictive use of tobacco, countries will witness a dramatic reduction in premature deaths from non-communicable diseases,” he said.
Dr Margaret Chan, director general of the WHO, said: “This is an appropriate location for this conference because non-communicable diseases are such an important health concern in the Gulf.
“Unfortunately people in this part of the world suffer from diabetes, which is heavily related to obesity. Smoking is also a problem in this part of the world.”
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