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Minister of Health Highlights Alarming Impact of Smoking on Life Expectancy in Saudi Arabia

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BNN Correspondents
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Smoking Reduces Average Life Expectancy of Saudis, says Health Minister
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Image Credit: The Rahnuma Daily

Smoking is a major concern for Saudi Arabia's Minister of Health, Fahad Al-Jalajel, who warned that it reduces the average life expectancy of Saudis by 1.6 years. This stands as a contradiction to the goals set by Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, which aims to increase the average life expectancy of its citizens. Al-Jalajel emphasized the importance of prioritizing health and acknowledged that smoking has severe consequences.

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To address the issue, Al-Jalajel has suggested various steps to help individuals quit smoking. These include avoiding places that promote smoking, making changes to eating habits, utilizing nicotine substitutes, and engaging in physical activities that promote social interaction. For those seeking assistance, anti-smoking clinics can be accessed by booking an appointment through the 937 center or the Sehhaty application.

In a significant move, the Public Investment Fund (PIF) has launched a new company called Badael. The company aims to reduce the number of smokers in Saudi Arabia by offering tobacco-free nicotine delivery products. Badael aims to help nearly one million people quit smoking by 2032, which would account for around 25% of all smokers in Saudi Arabia. This initiative has the potential to result in substantial savings, with an estimated annual reduction of healthcare expenditure by over SR6 billion by 2032.

Minister of Health Raises Concerns over Smoking's Impact on Life Expectancy in Saudi Arabia

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Minister of Health Fahad Al-Jalajel has expressed worry regarding the negative effects of smoking on the average life expectancy of Saudis. Contrary to the objectives of Vision 2030, which aims to increase life expectancy, smoking is found to reduce it by 1.6 years.

New Company Launched by PIF to Combat Smoking in Saudi Arabia

The PIF's Badael, a new company dedicated to reducing smoking rates plans to provide tobacco-free nicotine delivery products throughout the country. Its goal is to help approximately one million people quit smoking by 2032, representing a quarter of all smokers in Saudi Arabia.

HealthConcerns SmokingCessation LifeExpectancy CombatSmoking SaudiArabiaVision2030
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