Muscat – Represented by Department of Health Education and Awareness Programmes, Ministry of Health (MoH) officially launched a year-long ‘National Tobacco Harm Awareness Campaign’ on Wednesday at Arab Open University.

The event was held under the patronage of H H Dr Mona bint Fahd al Said, Assistant Vice-Chancellor for International Cooperation at Sultan Qaboos University and Chairperson of National Committee for the Fight Against Non-Communicable Diseases.

The launch was attended by H E Dr Ahmed bin Salem al Mandhari, Undersecretary for Planning and Health Regulation at MoH, alongside key officials from the ministry, as well as directors and department heads of health directorates across the sultanate.

Speaking about the significant public health threat posed by tobacco use in all its forms, H E Dr Mandhari referenced World Health Organization statistics. Tobacco use causes more than 5mn deaths annually, a number that could increase to over 8mn by 2030 if immediate and decisive action is not taken.

He also pointed out that approximately 700mn children – nearly half of the world’s child population – are exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke. In 2004, children represented 28% of premature deaths caused by secondhand smoke, amounting to 600,000 deaths globally.

H E Dr Mandhari stressed that addressing the tobacco epidemic goes beyond health alone; it is a shared societal responsibility. He underscored the need for coordinated efforts from all sectors to create a tobacco-free environment, stating that tobacco is not only a health risk but also a significant barrier to development and a cause of suffering for millions worldwide.

He also highlighted the growing danger of alternative tobacco products, especially e-cigarettes, which have become increasingly popular among young people and adolescents due to their appealing design and ease of access.