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Together for tobacco free Hajj 2006 (1426 Hegira)
In 2002, the
two holy cities of Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia were
declared tobacco free by the Custodian of the Two Holy
Mosques. Since then, tremendous efforts are being exerted by
the Tobacco Control Programme, Ministry of Health and the
Anti-Smoking Committee (nongovernmental organization)
towards maintaining and ensuring the continuity of this
initiative, particularly during Hajj (pilgrimage).
Although
Mecca and Medina are visited by numerous Muslims throughout
the year, during Hajj alone, nearly 4 million Muslims visit
the two holy cities. Special attention is therefore given to
producing materials specific to this season to raise
awareness about the health hazards associated with tobacco
use as well as general tobacco control related issues, as
follows:
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Billboards and stickers with multiple
anti-smoking messages are dispersed throughout
Mecca and Median as well as information on cessation
clinics, no smoking neon stands and the fatwa (religious
edict on the prohibition of tobacco use in Islam).
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Buses carrying pilgrims have tobacco free
Hajj stickers posted on them.
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At Mena, posters that read "you are
entering holly cities, do not smoke" are dispersed
everywhere.
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Folders containing pamphlets, flyers,
postcards, stickers, pouches to place the “jamarat”
stones, etc. are disseminated to pilgrims during the two
week period.
All the
materials displayed and disseminated during Hajj are
translated into six different languages to ensure widespread
reach across all nationalities that visit the two holy
cities at that time.
The materials
for Hajj 2006 (1426 Hegira):
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