Achievements of the Naqa'a Association in combating smoking in the Eastern Province and digital expansion
The Naqa'a Charitable Society for Combating Smoking in the Eastern Province has achieved an exceptional national accomplishment by helping nearly 100,000 smokers quit this harmful habit over the past decade. The society's director, Osama Al-Zamil, confirmed in an exclusive interview with Al-Youm newspaper that this success is due to the integrated treatment programs, which achieved a 61% success rate, thus contributing to the goals of preventative health and quality of life within Saudi Vision 2030.
Naqa'a Association's campaign against tobacco in the Eastern Province
The Anti-Smoking Charitable Association (Naqa') was established to be the first line of defense against the spread of tobacco use in Saudi society. Over many years, the association has successfully developed its tools from traditional awareness campaigns to providing comprehensive treatment services through fixed and mobile clinics. These efforts come within the context of a long history of the Kingdom's endeavors to reduce tobacco consumption, culminating in the imposition of selective taxes and the implementation of strict regulations prohibiting smoking in public places. This regulatory framework has enabled non-profit organizations to play their role more effectively and reach the most vulnerable groups.
Figures and statistics reflecting the scale of the field achievement
Al-Zamil revealed the figures that illustrate the scale of the work undertaken; the association's fixed clinics received approximately 2,100 patients, providing them with more than 6,000 specialized medical consultations. Simultaneously, the mobile clinics successfully reached 3,149 beneficiaries in the field, offering them 7,955 therapeutic and educational consultations.
Al-Zamil explained that females constituted 21% of the total patients, while males made up 79%. He pointed out that adherence to treatment programs and continuous follow-up were the decisive factors in raising recovery rates compared to random, individual attempts that often end in relapse.
The dangers of e-cigarettes and shisha and their impact on young people
Speaking about modern challenges, the association's director warned against widespread misconceptions about e-cigarettes and shisha. He emphasized that these products are no less dangerous than traditional smoking; in fact, a single shisha session can be equivalent to smoking dozens of cigarettes in terms of the amount of toxins inhaled. The association specifically targets youth and adolescents, as they are the most vulnerable to falling into the trap of addiction due to misleading marketing campaigns for alternative tobacco products.
A future vision towards digital transformation and regional impact
The impact of tobacco control efforts extends beyond the local level, reaching regionally and internationally as a model for activating the role of the non-profit sector in line with the World Health Organization's objectives. The association is currently expanding digitally by launching smart applications that provide remote medical and psychological consultations, facilitating access to thousands of smokers in various regions and alleviating the financial and health burden on the public healthcare system.
