More U-18 smoke in Morocco, official

The number of under 18 smokers is on the rise in Morocco despite the efforts made to fight tobacco, especially at schools, a health ministry official said on Monday.

   The youth aged 13 to 15 are the most exposed to tobacco addiction and the most impressionable by tobacco ads, Ahmed Souiri told MAP.

   Besides the uncontrolled sale of cigarettes to minors regardless of a crystal-clear ban, the social and family circle also contribute to the spread of this plague, given the fact that 30% of these youth are in close contact with a smoker parent.

   To face tobacco addiction and poisoning,the health ministry has set up a national action plan to fight tobacco, based on field research to assess the situation at schools, raise awareness on the damaging effects of smoking, and endorse incentive programs for smokers wishing to quit.

   Speaking of the goals of the one-month national cancer prevention and control programme, launched Friday, Sabiri said this plan aims to reduce cancer-related mortality, caused by smoking.

   A survey conducted in 2007 by the health ministry on tobacco at schools revealed that 15.5% of youngsters, aged between 13 and 15, consume tobacco, while boys constitute 19.2% of overall smokers against 9.4% for girls. 

   The survey that extended over three years showed that 24.3 % of young smokers started smoking before the age of 10.

   According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco is the second major cause of death in the world. It is currently responsible for the death of one in ten adults worldwide, that is about 5 million deaths every year.

   Part of its efforts to curb smoking, the health ministry has established partnerships with the Lalla Salma Association to Fight Cancer (ALSC) to sensitise people on the dangers of smoking.

MAP