A landmark telethon officially commenced on Friday signaling a nationwide media effort to support the government's landmark generational ban against tobacco.
The special broadcast aims to encourage all individuals born on or after 1 January 2007, to embrace a smoke-free future, with the generational ban on tobacco use set to take effect from Saturday. The telethon which began at 3:45 pm on Friday is scheduled to run continuously through tonight, concluding at 12:00 am on Monday, engaging the public on the critical health initiative.
The extensive programming for the telethon includes in-depth interviews with key stakeholders, alongside vital health and religious information concerning tobacco use. Diverse perspectives from youth, parents, and school students will be featured, ensuring a broad discussion on the implications and benefits of the ban. Various other segments are also planned to maintain viewer engagement and disseminate comprehensive information.
Complementing the telethon, a 24-hour run also began on Friday at 4:00 pm, designed to mark the historic implementation of the Tobacco Ban Act. This public event, which will conclude at 4:00 pm on Saturday, offers a range of activities, including a dedicated quit-smoking clinic, an advocacy stall for public education, live music, and a photo booth for participants.
The Minister of Health, Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim inaugurated the "National Torch Run," symbolising a collective commitment to protecting upcoming generations from the affliction of tobacco.
The event saw enthusiastic participation from several senior government officials, prominent local athletes, various sports clubs and associations, and employees from state-owned companies.
Initiated by the Ministry of Health, the Torch Run is a collaborative effort involving the Ministry of Sports, Fitness and Recreation, the Health Protection Agency (HPA), the World Health Organization (WHO), and numerous other government agencies and state-owned corporations. Participants are uniting under the powerful slogan, "Everyone together for a healthy generation."
During the launch ceremony, HPA Deputy Director Hassan Mohamed said that the main objective behind promoting a Generational Ban is to safeguard successive generations from tobacco's devastating effects and to foster healthy lifestyles from childhood.
He highlighted Maldives’ pioneering efforts in implementing such a generational ban as a crucial stride towards building a healthier population.
"Given the strong and multiple measures already taken to control tobacco, we are ready for such a different but far-reaching generational ban policy," he said.
He underscored that the political commitment is paramount to implementing such a policy, where all agencies work toward the same goal.
Echoing this sentiment, Ms Paden, the WHO Representative to the Maldives, lauded the initiative. She hailed the implementation of a generational ban, as exemplified by the Maldives, as a courageous decision taken by a small country for a healthy future, affirming WHO's warm welcome of such visionary government decisions.
This special 24-hour run serves as a powerful public campaign to heighten awareness of tobacco's perils and to encourage collective action against its use. The event, which is open to people of all ages, has invited everyone to join in this vital movement for a healthier future for all.
The government engineered amendment to the Tobacco Control Act stipulates that once the bill becomes law, no person born on or after 1 January 2007, will be legally permitted to smoke. Additionally, the legislation will strictly prohibit the sale of any tobacco products to individuals within this age bracket, ultimately creating a smoke-free generation.