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Ammon News - by Muath Freij/ Jordan Times

AMMAN — Around 34 per cent of Jordanian doctors are smokers, according to “The reality of tobacco control in Jordan” report released on Monday.

The report, which was released at a seminar, was based on figures from several past local and global studies.

Around 20 per cent of Jordanians aged between 11 and 12 smoke, the study said, which necessitates more awareness campaigns targeting young people to highlight the dangers of smoking.

Smoking is responsible for 30 per cent of cancer cases in Jordan, Feras Hawari, director of the King Hussein Cancer Centre’s cancer control office, said at the seminar, noting that some 5,000 cancer cases are registered annually in the Kingdom.

Hawari noted that one of the main reasons behind the increase in tobacco consumption is young people’s easy access to its products.

“Tobacco products like cigarettes are affordable for most people. In addition, the growing number of argileh sales and cafés in Jordan exacerbates the problem,” he added.

According to the report, cigarettes are the most popular tobacco products in Jordan, with 93 per cent of smokers preferring them.

Hawari noted that around 13,000 people worldwide die daily because of smoking.

He said the report also highlights the positive and negative results of efforts to combat smoking, adding that it is a step towards improving anti-tobacco campaigns.