Introduction
UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention is focusing on three main areas within tobacco control during the COVID-19 pandemic: enforcing a ban on waterpipe use in public places, a national awareness campaign and adapting smoking cessation services.
Ban on waterpipes in public places
On 12 March 2020, municipalities of different Emirates had issued a decision banning waterpipes in all restaurants and cafés. The decision was published in official newspapers and disseminated widely across social media platforms. This ban was monitored by economic development and municipalities affairs authorities. The response to the ban was mostly positive and restaurants and cafés immediately removed waterpipes. Where there were violations, they were met with fines and closures as needed. Using waterpipes in the privacy of homes and especially by youth still poses a challenge.
Awareness campaign during COVID-19
UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention, during the second week of March 2020, launched a wide-scale awareness campaign using its social media platforms. The reach figures during the period 17 April to 4 June include: 206 954 for Facebook posts and 299 118 for Instagram posts. During the same period, the engagement figure on Twitter reached 33 070.
To coincide with World No Tobacco Day 2020, a press statement by His Excellency the Undersecretary of Health was circulated widely. The statement stressed on the linkages between tobacco use and the transmission of the COVID-19 virus. The statement urged smokers to quit in order to reduce the risk of contracting the virus and to increase the recovery chances from COVID-19.
Adapting smoking cessation services
UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention shifted its smoking cessation services to virtual primary healthcare e-clinics during the pandemic. The physicians were able to carry out consultations and counselling for patients through the use of video communication and collaboration platforms.
Way forward
Currently, all lockdown restrictions have been lifted across UAE. The Ministry of Health and Prevention is developing a mass media campaign on tobacco control. The campaign will be launched by the end of 2020. Future plans will also include the integration of smoking cessation services in all primary healthcare clinics through an online training program that aims to enable all physicians to provide smoking cessation services and training of dentists to provide basic smoking cessation advice to patients.
Related links
Coronavirus: Dubai bans shisha pipes with immediate effect (The National)
No Tobacco Day: UAE Ministry warns smokers about COVID-19 risks (Khaleej Times)
UAE Health Ministry urges smokers to kick habit to mark 'World No Tobacco Day' (Gulf Today)
UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention post in Arabic on noncommunicable diseases and COVID-19
Waterpipe use banned in Dubai, Ajman, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah (Al Bayan)