Al-Tahrawi calls for activating law banning smoking in public places
This article was automatically translated from HIBAPRESS, the Arabic version:
This article was automatically translated from HIBAPRESS, the Arabic version:
Heba Press – Rabat
Minister of Health and Social Protection, Amine Tahraoui, has called for the implementation of strict legislation necessary to protect non-smokers from exposure to tobacco smoke and to ban smoking in all public places.
During his appearance today Monday at the House of Representatives during the oral questions session, Al-Tahrawi stressed the importance of involving everyone, individuals, administrations and civil society, in promoting the fight against tobacco , particularly with regard to preventing the initiation of smoking. smoking among young people.
Al-Tahrawi explained that smoking poses a real danger to health, as it is considered a major global scourge and kills around 8 million people every year worldwide (World Health Organization, according to data provided by Al -Tahrawi, the World Health Organization). The prevalence of smoking in our country is 13.4% among adults aged 18 and over and is responsible for 8% of deaths in Morocco, 75% of deaths from lung cancer and 10% of deaths from diseases. respiratory.
Al-Tahrawi pointed out that the results of the assessment carried out by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection on the epidemiological and economic impact of smoking showed that tobacco is responsible for 74,000 cases of cardiovascular diseases in our country and 4,227 new cases of lung cancer. each year, and the number of deaths attributed to tobacco has reached 12,800 premature deaths.
As this assessment reveals, adds the minister, the annual economic cost of tobacco in Morocco exceeds 5 billion dirhams.
The Minister of Health and Social Protection indicated that the national multisectoral strategy for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases 2019-2029 includes among its objectives the reduction of tobacco consumption among the population aged 15 and over. ‘around 20% by 2029.
