By Xinhua
Abu Dhabi : The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has set up two smoking de-addiction centres to help smokers quit smoking.
The two clinics have been established by the ministry of health in coordination with Novartis Consumer Health, a division of Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis, in the emirates of Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah.
"The objective of establishing the Smoking Cessation Clinic is to provide the necessary services accompanied with educational information and awareness to help smokers who want to quit the habit but do not know how to go about it," Mariam Matar, assistant under-secretary in the ministry, was quoted as saying in the Khaleej Times.
"All registered members will be provided with a comprehensive personalised smoking cessation plan, free medical advice and free treatment on how to quit smoking. There will also be general physical checkups by the doctors at the beginning of the three-month long program," she added.
The ministry will also organise comprehensive training courses for specifically nominated medical doctors on how to operate special smoking cessation clinics in the other emirates.