SAUDI ARABIA: A Saudi charity aiming to combat the rising numbers of smokers in the Kingdom uses innovative ways to raise awareness of the dangers of smoking and drugs
Record ID:
189225
SAUDI ARABIA: A Saudi charity aiming to combat the rising numbers of smokers in the Kingdom uses innovative ways to raise awareness of the dangers of smoking and drugs
- Title: SAUDI ARABIA: A Saudi charity aiming to combat the rising numbers of smokers in the Kingdom uses innovative ways to raise awareness of the dangers of smoking and drugs
- Date: 12th August 2013
- Summary: JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ANTI SMOKING MOBILE CLINIC IN JEDDAH POSTER ON BUS WITH ARABIC WRITING READING (in Arabic): "ANTI SMOKING MOBILE CLINICS - KAFA (ENOUGH) ASSOCIATION" VARIOUS OF ASSOCIATION MEMBERS WITH SMOKERS ON THE STREET ARABIC WRITING ON THE BUS READING (in Arabic):"STOP SMOKING" VARIOUS OF MEN SMOKING ARABIC WRITING AND ENGLISH ON THE BUS READING: GIVE UP SMOKING.. BEFORE SMOKING PUTS AN END TO YOUR LIFE" (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ,OTHMAN RADI, DIRECTOR OF KAFA ANTI-SMOKING ASSOCIATION, SAYING: ''Our work in the association is in two areas, the first is preventive educational awareness. The second is treatment in the case of someone ending up smoking or even using drugs so we take them in hand, treat them for smoking and look after them if they recover from using drugs.'' POSTER SHOWING A YOUNG GIRL VARIOUS OF TWO SMOKERS SMOKING NEAR THE ANTI SMOKING CLINIC VARIOUS OF TWO SMOKERS ENTERING THE ANTI SMOKING CLINIC SMOKERS LOOKING AT AN ANTI-SMOKING BROCHURE POSTER SHOWING THE CONSEQUENCES OF SMOKING DIRECTOR OF HEALTH PROGRAM, EXPLAINING TO THE SMOKERS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE HEALTHY LUNG AND A LUNG WITH CANCER TWO REAL LUNGS (THE RIGHT ONE IS THE HEALTHY LUNG, THE LEFT ONE WITH CANCER) MAN USING PUMP LUNG WITH CANCER BEING PUMPED TREATMENT SPECIALIST SPEAKING TO SMOKER VARIOUS OF TREATMENT SPECIALIST TREATING SMOKER VIBRATION MACHINE SMOKER BEING TREATED (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic), ABDULLAH BAFLAH, TREATMENT SPECIALIST, SAYING: ''The thing that makes the smoker return to smoking is nicotine. Now they get these vibrations that will detract all the withdrawal symptoms, and will stop them from feeling headaches, tension, and nervousness, after the person themselves choose to be treated.'' VARIOUS OF SMOKERS SITTING DURING TREATMENT (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic), YASSER ALI, SMOKER, SAYING: ''I felt the vibrations during the installation of the device that helps to quit smoking. The reason I came here is determination." VARIOUS OF ANTI SMOKING FLIERS DIRECTOR OF HEALTH PROGRAM GIVING GIFTS AND ANTI SMOKING FLIERS TO THE SMOKERS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic), MAHROS BATAHNI, SMOKER, SAYING : ''I was smoking ten minutes ago then I went into the treatment session and thankfully I felt relaxed. Now I promise God, and will work hard, to stop smoking.'' SMOKERS LEAVING ANTI SMOKING MOBILE CLINIC SMOKER TRAMPLING CIGARETTES
- Embargoed: 27th August 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Saudi Arabia
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- Topics: Health
- Reuters ID: LVAE22G33FF53T245Z92UILO1EPK
- Story Text: A Saudi charity organisation called Kafa, which means "enough" in Arabic, already has fully-functioning clinics that patients can visit for information or for treatment of smoking and drug addition.
Yet Kafa's campaign doesn't end there; the organisation also uses mobile clinics that travel round to various cities in Saudi Arabia spreading the message further afield.
At one of the clinics in Jeddah, Othman Radi, the director of the government-funded Kafa Association, says they work hard in both prevention and treatment of addiction to smoking and drugs.
''Our work in the association is in two areas, the first is preventive educational awareness. The second is treatment in the case of someone ending up smoking or even using drugs so we take them in hand, treat them for smoking and look after them if they recover from using drugs,'' said Radi.
Visitors of the mobile clinics are taken through a guided tour of the dangers of smoking, including a demonstration of the long term impact of it on the lungs.
A treatment specialist shows a group of visitors the difference between a healthy and blackened lung.
One of the ways that specialists here hope to help smokers quit the habit, is connecting them to a vibration machine, according to treatment specialist Abdullah Baflah it helps reduce withdrawal symptoms.
''The thing that makes the smoker return to smoking is nicotine. Now they get these vibrations that will detract all the withdrawal symptoms, and will stop them from feeling headaches, tension, and nervousness, after the person themselves choose to be treated,'' said Abdullah Baflah.
But ultimately will power is a major factor when it comes to giving up.
''I felt the vibrations during the installation of the device that helps to quit smoking. The reason I came here is determination," said Yasser Ali, who came to the clinic for help in stopping smoking.
''I was smoking ten minutes ago then I went into the treatment session and thankfully I felt relaxed. Now I promise God, and will work hard, to stop smoking,'' said Mahros Batahni who is also keen on quitting smoking.
According to the Saudi Diabetes and Endocrine Association in the Eastern Province, the number of Saudi smokers is expected to double by 2020.
The Association says that lack of awareness about the dangers of smoking is one of the key factors in this increase from 5 million to 10 million smokers, making the work of organisations like Kafa all the more vital in helping people to stub out this addiction. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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