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Tobacco-free Mecca and Medina
© World Health Organization 2007
This report examines the rationale and experiences of the Saudi government in regulating tobacco use in Mecca and Medina, the two holiest cities in Islam. In 2002, the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia adopted a new and radical policy approach to strengthening tobacco control through religion, whereby it launched an initiative to make Mecca and Medina not just smoke-free but literally tobacco-free.
Tobacco and poverty: A vicious circle
© World Health Organization 2004
"Tobacco and poverty" is a package developed for the World No Tobacco Day 2004 campaign. "A vicious circle" illustrates the link between tobacco and poverty. Tobacco tends to be consumed by those who are poorer. In turn, it contributes to poverty through loss of income, loss of productivity, disease and death. Together, tobacco and poverty form a vicious circle from which it is often difficult to escape.
Tobacco increases the poverty of individuals and families
© World Health Organization 2004
“Tobacco and poverty” is a package developed for the World No Tobacco Day 2004 campaign. “Tobacco increases the poverty of individuals and families” illustrates how in most countries, tobacco use tends to be higher among the poor. In turn, poor families spend a larger portion of their income on tobacco. Money spent on tobacco cannot be spent on basic human needs, such as food, shelter, education and health care.
It also shows how tobacco can worsen poverty among users and their families since tobacco users are at much higher risk of falling ill and dying prematurely of tobacco-related diseases, depriving families of much needed income and imposing additional costs for health care.
