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Morocco schools, firms earn World No Tobacco Day honours

To celebrate the WHO's annual day devoted to fighting tobacco use, Princess Lalla Salma recognised Moroccan institutions that are making headway in the fight against smoking.
Moroccan officials on Monday (May 31st) marked World No Tobacco Day by honouring schools, hospitals and businesses for participating in a national anti-smoking campaign.

Princess Lalla Salma, who heads the Lalla Salma Campaign to Combat Cancer (ALSC), presided over the awards ceremony in Skhirat.

The ALSC launched the anti-smoking campaign jointly with the Health Department in March 2007. Smoking in schools has dropped by 1.5% in Fes, Marrakech, Meknes and Rabat thanks to efforts being made under the national anti-smoking campaign, Health Minister Yasmina Baddou said at the May 31st event.

Smoking among teachers also dropped 3% in the same period, said the minister.

Amira Lalla Salma High School in Rissani and the Jamal Eddine Afghani secondary school were recognised for being smoke-free as part of the national campaign, which has signed up a third of Morocco's schools.

Maroc Telecom , BMCE Bank and Morocco's state railway board were also honoured for their anti-tobacco efforts. Over 80% of hospitals as well as 15 companies, three national offices and two public authorities have signed up for the national campaign.

The World Health Organisation started World No Tobacco Day in 1987 to encourage 24 hours of abstinence from all tobacco consumption. The day is further intended to draw world attention to the prevalence of tobacco use and its negative effects on public health.

Bouchra El Aassimi, a student at Jamel Eddine El Afghani, said that having more after-school activities has made a difference.

"Teaching clubs have been set up in the school and activities have been introduced to interest and occupy pupils, which have stopped them from spending a lot of time outside," she said. "This has really cut down on the level of smoking taking place."

"A lot of my classmates smoke because they think this will make them more grown-up, and it's a way of rebelling against their parents," Temara high school student Hamid S. told Magharebia.

"They also smoke because it's a way of keeping themselves busy outside of school. Any awareness campaign has to cover these two points. In addition, if they fill up our time with out-of-school activities such as drama workshops, a lot of pupils won't get sucked into smoking," he said.

The no-smoking campaign in schools is important, said Jamal Eddine El Afghani headmaster Mustapha Asbane. "The programme consists not only of making pupils aware of the harm caused by smoking, but also of running themed workshops and various out-of-school activities."

All of Morocco's regional education authorities are involved in the national "non-smoking schools, colleges and businesses" programme, which involves pupils, teachers and others in combating tobacco use, said Secretary of State for School Education Latifa Abida. The ALSC provides technical assistance for educational activities.

Casablanca's 20 August Hospital also received a prize for its efforts to stamp out smoking through an awareness campaign aimed at employees and patients.

"Prevention is the best way of fighting diseases linked to smoking," said Mohamed Ammor, a member of the hospital's smoke-free committee. Patients visiting the hospital are offered medical advice on how to stop smoking, he added.

The Health Ministry plans to roll out medical consultations in all health centres to reduce smoking, and train 600 doctors and 500 paramedics about how to tackle the problem.

By Siham Ali for Magharebia in Rabat

© Magharebia.com 2010