Minister of Health: Tobacco Poses a Direct Threat to Health Security in Sudan

Port Sudan – Sudanhorizon

The Fourth Arab Conference on Tobacco Control concluded its activities today (Sunday) in the city of Port Sudan, held under the slogan “Tobacco is the Enemy of the Future… Let Us Confront It Together,” with broad participation from Arab health and legislative leaders.

Minister of Health, Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim, affirmed that tobacco represents a direct threat to health security in Sudan and the region, citing national studies that have proven its close association with cancer, miscarriages, and premature births.

The minister stressed that the cost of treating diseases caused by smoking far exceeds the tax revenues generated by the tobacco industry, emphasizing that real investment lies in protecting citizens’ health.

He explained that confronting this scourge requires two main pillars: intensive community awareness and the enactment of strict legal legislation to curb the expansion of tobacco companies.

The minister also called on health and professional leaders to spearhead this effort, describing smokers as victims who need support and assistance to quit, especially since smoking serves as a gateway for some into drug abuse and addiction.

For his part, the Governor of the Red Sea State, Lieutenant General Mustafa Mohamed Nour, welcomed the participants, stressing that tobacco is no longer merely an individual behavior but has become a direct threat to sustainable development. He called for building effective partnerships among legislative and educational institutions, civil society, and youth to confront this danger.

In the same context, the Conference President, Dr. Ahmed Abdullah Al-Hassan, emphasized that holding this event under the current circumstances reflects that public health is a priority that cannot be delayed. He warned against tobacco companies exploiting crises and fragile environments to expand at the expense of community health.

Meanwhile, the President of the Arab Tobacco Control Union, Dr. Wael Safwat (Egypt), expressed his pride in being in Sudan and praised the strong official commitment shown. He affirmed that the Union seeks to unify Arab efforts to combat this phenomenon that targets youth and children and drains national economies, noting that the Union’s receipt of the World Health Organization Award in 2021 served as a strong incentive to enhance preventive policies across the region.

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