Health Minister Nazim Ibrahim has claimed 27 percent of deaths occurred every year in Maldives is directly attributed by the usage of tobacco and its products.
While speaking to commemorate the World No Tobacco Day, health minister stressed on fatal diseases due to the use of tobacco. Minister Nazim pointed Maldives experienced deaths due to cardiovascular diseases and strokes; which are often caused by the usage of tobacco.
Tobacco draws the line as the root cause for 81 percent of the diseases found in aforementioned mortality-rate cases, according to the minister.
Talking about the medical achievements in Maldives minister Nazim stressed on the government expenditure to counter tobacco related diseases which amount to 1.6 billion annually.
Moving to the trend in smoking and tobacco usage, minister had spoken about the introduction of electronic vape devices and revival of hookah smoking in Maldives.
Minister had lambasted the number of passive smokers getting affected by the release of smokes from these devices; which tend to be thicker and more in volume in comparison to regular cigarettes.
During the special ceremony held to commemorate the No Tobacco Day, Dhamanveshi took the special award of the day for having conducted active work countering smoking and tobacco usage.
World Health Organization (WHO) initiated World No Tobacco Day is commemorated on May 31 annually, with the slogan 'Tobacco and heart diseases' for 2018.
