First Lady Sajidha Mohamed called on the nation’s business community to take the initiative in eradicating tobacco use and protecting public health.
Addressing an official gathering in Mulaku, Meemu atoll to mark World No Tobacco Day, she warned that the health damage caused by tobacco is a disaster that lasts for generations and that scientific evidence now shows the harm extends beyond the smoker to include non‑smokers and even those who merely encounter secondhand smoke.
“Most deaths of smokers are linked to tobacco‑related diseases, and the plague also harms the children born to smokers,” she said, emphasising that safety and health demand strong morals and unwavering determination.
She reminded the audience that tobacco is not only a waste of money— “expenditure to harm the body”—but also a poison that disrupts lung function, causes cancer and heart problems, and impairs the body’s internal systems.
The First Lady stressed the need for cafés, restaurants and other hospitality businesses to lead the fight, urging them to create smoke‑free environments and to support community outreach efforts.
She highlighted that the government and the World Health Organization are collaborating to build a tobacco‑free society, and called on every entrepreneur to start with a new goal by discouraging tobacco use among staff and patrons.
Turning to this year’s World No Tobacco Day theme, the First Lady noted that while overt tobacco advertising has been banned, subtle attempts to attract new users still persist through covert marketing tactics. She called for continued vigilance and for businesses to reject any form of promotion that could entice new smokers.