Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirate - 31, May 2022:  In conjunction with the annual World no Tobacco Day on May 31, Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC), the region’s first dedicated center protecting the physical, mental and social wellbeing of Abu Dhabi’s population by raising public and preventative healthcare awareness, has launched its annual campaign to raise awareness about the harms of smoking and the importance of quitting under the theme: 'Together Towards a Tobacco-Free Abu Dhabi'.

With the aim of raising awareness about the harmful effects of smoking tobacco, the importance of quitting smoking tobacco in all its kinds including alternatives and electronic products, avoiding exposure to passive smoking, and adopting a healthy lifestyle, ADPHC has supported its strategic partners' concerted efforts by utilizing ADPHC’s social media platforms to enhance education through sending unified messages and conducting seminars on the harmful effects of tobacco.

Targeting the youth in schools and universities, awareness campaigns have included virtual lectures organized in cooperation with strategic partners in the Emirate, from both government and private agencies, including Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), across 152 schools in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, targeting a total of 85,160 students, school workers and parents. The campaigns also advocate for the implementation of the Federal Law 15 of 2009 and the Executive by-law 24 of 2013 concerning tobacco control, through conducting awareness lectures discussing its developments, targeting more than 270 employees from Abu Dhabi Police, Presidential Guard and SAAED for Traffic Systems . Further collaborative efforts are underway between ADPHC and several academic and health authorities, as well as other sectors, to conduct more educational awareness workshops and events during the current month of May 2022.

Tobacco control is one of ADPHC’s key priorities, and the aim to achieve a smoke-free environment remains the pillar of the Tobacco Control Programme’s strategy to advance the Centre’s mission “towards a tobacco-free Abu Dhabi”.