Health Minister Abdullah Nazim have said that smoking is dangerous to smokers and also those who are exposed to the smoke.
In a statement issued by the minister on World No Smoking Day, the minister asked everything to think about why smoking is a barrier that prevents personal and national development. He also asked people to think what they can do about it.
In addition, the minister said that smoking makes you prone to heart diseases and various types of cancer. He said that on average 7 million people die as a result of smoking every year. Furthermore, the minister said that 81 percent of the people who die in Maldives die from these diseases.
Furthermore, the minister said that 462 million cigarettes are imported to Maldives every year and that is 1.1 billion Rufiyaa gone to waste. Minister also Nazim said that a smoker spends thousands of Rufiyaa every month on cigarette and also have to stay away from work as a result of diseases caused by smoking. Ever year 31st May is marked as World no smoking day.
Smoking is dangerous to those who smoke and those who are exposed to smoke : Health Minister
