AMMAN, Nov. 14 (Xinhua)-- Medical workers in Jordan called for more campaigns to raise awareness among Jordanians about the serious health and economic consequences of heavy smoking.
According to recent press statements by the World Health Organization, the average Jordanian household spends 73.6 Jordanian dinars (about 103.8 U.S. dollars) per month on tobacco-related products, whereas their average monthly expenditure on fruits is no more than 27 dinars.
Such practices are worrisome as they will not only damage the health of smokers, but might also incur economic losses to individuals and governments for possible rising health bills, warned medical workers.
"Unfortunately, smoking is quite common in Jordanian society. Even in some hallways of some hospitals, patients, visitors and doctors can be seen smoking," Ali Masoud, a nurse at the state-owned Al-Bashir Hospital, told Xinhua.
The nurse called for stiffer enforcement of the laws and regulations that ban smoking in public areas in the Arab kingdom.
"The percentage of smokers in Jordan is higher than many countries in the region," the nurse said.
According to the amended 2017 Public Health Law, smoking in all public places is prohibited in Jordan. The penalty entails imprisonment ranging between one month and three months, or a fine between 100 Jordanian dinars and 200 dinars.
"There is certainly a need for more awareness," Masoud said.
Rayaa Abed, head of the nursing unit at a private hospital in the capital Amman, said even many of the medical staff in Jordan are smokers.
"Health associations and organizations need to intensify their campaigns to highlight the serious consequences of smoking and encourage a healthier lifestyle among citizens," Abed told Xinhua.
Sara Jameel, an economic news editor at the Jordan Press Foundation, said Jordanians spend around 1.6 billion dinars on smoking and tobacco each year.
"It is an issue that needs further attention as hundreds of millions of dinars are spent each year for the treatment of diseases related to smoking and this is a health and economic loss," she told Xinhua.
"The key is to raise awareness further and harshen penalties, otherwise losses in lives and money will continue," Jameel said.
Bassam Haj, a father of five and a smoker, said "I know smoking has negative side effects, but I have been smoking for more than 40 years and it is difficult to quit now." ■
