By Fazeena Saleem
DOHA: Health experts yesterday called on authorities to adopt policies to curb shisha (hookah smoking), a common pastime among people in Qatar and the region.
Experts at the second International Conference on Water pipe (shisha) Smoking Research also stressed the need for research to prove the high prevalence of shisha smoking and its harm to health.
“There is some awareness about cigarette-smoking among the people, but our main challenge is to create awareness about shisha smoking by creating a comprehensive policy,” said Dr Ahmed Mohamed Al Mulla, Head, Smoking Cessation Clinic, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), and Senior Consultant, Public Health and Disease Control.
“Research and capacity building to address this collision of two epidemics (shisha and cigarette) are needed to provide evidence that can guide interventions and policies,” he added.
The two-day conference at Doha Marriot is held under the theme ‘A Collision of Two Epidemics: Waterpipe and Cigarette’.
The emergence of shisha adds a burden to a huge and uncontrolled smoking epidemic. Although one session of shisha smoking is known to have harmful effects equivalent to or higher than smoking 20 cigarettes, misconceptions and myths encourage people to get addicted to the habit, say experts.
It was also highlighted that new trends are merging to promote shisha smoking among adolescents in the region.
“Shisha smoking is becoming a public health problem… We have to do more because there are new trends coming up in the GCC,” said Professor Tawfik Khouja, Director-General, GCC Health Ministers Council.
“Shisha smoking is promoted by showing it as a problem-solving tool on tele-dramas… Also Ramadan has become a month of smoking Shisha,” he added.
This year the GCC Health Ministers Council made 40 resolutions against the use of shisha and tobacco. It asked the Ministry of Information in the member states to take steps to stop showing shisha smoking on TV.
Prof Khouja said in the region only Bahrain and Kuwait have stopped showing shisha smoking on TV.
Dr Ahmed Hajar Albinali, former health minister of Qatar and now Director of Cardiology, Medical Education, in his keynote speech said shisha smokers are found to have high levels of carbon monoxide in their lungs.
“Only few smokers reach old age, which is mainly due to genetics, but smoking is a great risk to life,” he said.
The conference includes panel discussions, presentations and over 30 poster presentations.
A pre-conference workshop, entitled ‘How to develop a summary or abstract for a scientific study proposal enhances skills for proposal writing, was held. The forum also provides opportunities for informal networking.
The Peninsula
