Smoking: The facts [Archives:2006/945/Community]

Mohammed A. Khoshafah
“NO SMOKING”. This and many other posters like it call and warn people to avoid smoking especially in public institutions. The question however is: do all people follow these rules???

When I see a smoker, cigarette in mouth, on the bus; I change seats. I witness this same scene in the restaurants, cafeterias, taxis, gardens, schools, hospitals, etc. Smoking has become a bad habit- a reality we face in Yemen along with other countries in the world.

Last week, I saw approximately 55 years old walking slowly and out of breath. My impression was that he had run or walked from a far off distance; yet I was surprised when he said, “I have just left my house and these are my first steps to the mosque”. He told me that he smokes cigarette and the pipe “mada'ah” and now very tired. A primary school teacher says “I smoke a lot when I am chewing Qat in the afternoon”. “I smoke a pack of cigarettes every day”, he added. Ali, a bus-driver says “I began smoking in 1975 when I was fifteen years old, and now I couldn't stop it”. He adds “I can't enjoy my chewing without a cigarette”.

I was on another bus when Sadiq, a 24 years old Yemeni man who works in a special firm began to smoke. I request him to stop and he did. Then, I started talking with him about his life journey with cigarettes. By chance, he was sitting beside his father, but I didn't know that. Both of them smiled at me. Sadiq says “we used to live in Saudi Arabia when I was a child. My father of course is a smoker. One day I saw a pack of cigarettes behind the pillow in my father's bedroom. I took it and picked one up, lighted it and began smoking. It was just an imitation of my dad and the people who I saw smoking. At that time, I didn't know the dangers of nicotine, because I was only 8 years old. Suddenly my father entered the room and saw what I was doing. He was very angry with me and he punished me. I didn't do it again until I was 16. At the time, I was a student in the school and there were some bad classmates studying with me. They began to give me cigarettes for free and showing me how to smoke. Day after day, I became addicted. When I was 19, I decided to stop it and I did for six months. During this, I always had headache and my chest hurt. The doctor told me that it was better to stop it gradually in order to beat it completely. Then I tried to smoke 3-4 cigarettes every day, but again I became a heavy smoker.”

The fact is smoking in its various types; such as cigarette, mada'ah and sheeshah are practiced every day by many people of different ages. Many workers, teachers, taxi-drivers, students, teenagers, etc are simply addicted. Some women also share in this bad habit with their male counterparts especially middle-aged and older women. Some of these know the hazards of smoking and some don't know.

According to the British statistics, the smokers in Britain spend about $ 2000 million on their habit every year. About 100,000 million cigarettes are smoked in Britain every year, an equivalent to approximately 5 cigarettes a day for every man, woman, child and baby in the country. Similar figures can be found in most other countries. In countries where cigarettes are cheaper, the figures are even higher. I don't know any statistics on Yemeni smokers, but I think that the disaster is bigger as we live in a country in which the degree of illiteracy is higher.

Both active and passive smokers get all the harmful effects from smoking. I mean, the people who breathe in the smoke of the smokers are affected equally to the actual smoker who lives or sits with them in their places of work. Mothers who smoke during pregnancy are exposing their unborn babies to considerable risks. When a pregnant woman smokes, the supply of oxygen to her fetus is drastically reduced. There is evidence of a greater danger of miscarriage or premature birth for smoking mothers. Statistics show that babies born to mothers who smoke are, on average, smaller and lighter than babies of non-smoking mothers.

In Europe, lung cancer is by far the most common form of cancer. 95% of all lung cancer patients are smokers. It has been calculated that one in eight of all smokers will die of lung cancer. The morality rate directly increases with increased consumption. Smokers are also at greater risk for chronic bronchitis and other dangerous respiratory conditions such as emphysema.

Nicotine in cigarette smoke has an effect on the heart and blood vessels, and this can lead to severe cardiovascular problem, including coronary, digestive tract and kidney problems. Over all, it is estimated that at least 25% of all smokers will die prematurely from tobacco related diseases. 3,000 people in Britain die every week as a result of their habit.

So, what's the need for smoking?

From this end I advise and request every smoker to give it up. I risk them to save their lives and their money. People who smoke must have mercy on themselves and on their families who live with them under the same roof. All of us as intelligent members in this society must invite our addicted brothers to give up smoking. Every smoker must remember their spouse and children need fresh air, a clean atmosphere, medical care and good nutrition. All these can't be fulfilled if the head of the family is polluting the environment and wasting his money. Many smokers and chewers spend money with out caring about the necessary needs of their families.

All of us must say in a loud voice 'No for smoking -Yes to better health'.

Mohammed A. Khoshafah is an English teacher at the Alameed Institute, Ibb city
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