First Lady Urges Business Leaders to Lead National Fight Against Tobacco

First Lady Sajidha Mohamed has called on the Maldivian business community to spearhead efforts in eradicating tobacco use to protect public health and safeguard future generations. Speaking at an official gathering in Mulaku, Meemu Atoll, to mark World No Tobacco Day, the First Lady warned that the health devastation caused by tobacco is a generational disaster. She emphasized that scientific evidence confirms the danger extends far beyond the smoker, posing significant risks to non-smokers and those exposed to secondhand smoke. "Most deaths of smokers are linked to tobacco-related diseases, and the plague also harms the children born to smokers," she stated, asserting that ensuring public safety requires strong moral leadership and unwavering determination. The First Lady described tobacco use as both a financial waste and a biological poison, noting that it disrupts vital lung functions, triggers cancer and heart disease, and impairs the body's internal systems. Specifically targeting the hospitality sector, she urged owners of cafés, restaurants, and other businesses to lead the charge by establishing strictly smoke-free environments and supporting community outreach initiatives. She challenged entrepreneurs to set new organizational goals by actively discouraging tobacco use among both their staff and patrons. Addressing this year's World No Tobacco Day theme, the First Lady highlighted the persistence of covert marketing. While overt tobacco advertising is now banned in the Maldives, she cautioned that subtle tactics are still used to attract new users. She called for continued vigilance and urged the business sector to reject any form of promotion that could entice individuals to start smoking. The First Lady concluded by highlighting the ongoing collaboration between the Maldivian government and the World Health Organization (WHO) to build a tobacco-free society, framing the effort as a collective necessity for the nation's well-being.