First Lady Urges Collective Effort to Combat Tobacco Use in Maldives

First Lady Sajidha Mohamed has called on all tobacco users to take decisive steps towards overcoming tobacco addiction and safeguarding their health, as she highlighted the need for a collective national response to tobacco use.

She made the remarks while speaking at the official ceremony held yesterday at Mulak School in Meemu Atoll to mark World No Tobacco Day.

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In her address, the First Lady said the launch of the national anti-tobacco campaign signals the beginning of a significant initiative aimed at reducing tobacco use across the Maldives. She expressed confidence that the campaign would reinforce this year’s World No Tobacco Day theme and contribute to long-term behavioural change.

She stressed that tobacco use is enabled by multiple social factors and said addressing the issue requires coordinated national action. She called on the public to work together to protect communities and build a tobacco-free society.

The First Lady also urged cafés, restaurants and other businesses to play a stronger role in supporting national anti-tobacco efforts, noting the importance of private sector engagement in public health initiatives.

She highlighted the harmful effects of smoking on users and those exposed to second-hand and third-hand smoke, and warned of the risks associated with sheesha smoking, including the potential transmission of germs through shared hoses. She also cited research indicating that two-thirds of smokers die from health conditions linked to tobacco use.

During the ceremony, Sajidha Mohamed unveiled the logo of the national anti-tobacco campaign, titled “Anti-Tobacco Campaign: Time to Quit”, a five-year initiative launched on 31 May 2026 to coincide with World No Tobacco Day.

She also participated in a live canvas activity and signed a pledge board calling on the public to reject tobacco use and protect the community.

The event also featured the announcement of the Health Minister’s Award for Tobacco Control Excellence, which recognises individuals and organisations contributing to tobacco control efforts.

Following the ceremony, the First Lady viewed student submissions from Mulak School for a poster competition and visited exhibition stalls showcasing awareness initiatives on the harmful effects of tobacco. She also met with winning students and took part in photographs.

The ceremony was attended by Minister for Health, Family, and Welfare Geela Ali, Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Fitness Abdulla Rafiu, World Health Organization Representative to the Maldives Ms Payden, and MP for Mulaku constituency Ibrahim Naufal.

Health Minister Geela Ali also emphasised the need for a united approach to tobacco control, calling on institutions, councils and communities to work together to create tobacco-free spaces.

Later, the First Lady inaugurated the M. Mulaku Fitness and Recreation Centre and toured the facility. The development of fitness and recreation centres and outdoor gyms on every inhabited island forms part of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s pledges.

The event was held against the backdrop of a government initiative to reduce import duties on cigarettes and other tobacco products, which sparked debate in Parliament on Wednesday. Opposition MPs questioned the policy’s objectives, while government-aligned lawmakers defended it as a public health measure.

The government, however, maintained that the proposed amendments aim to encourage smoking cessation and promote healthier lifestyle choices. Officials said the changes are intended to create economic incentives for quitting while improving access to cessation support products.

Under the proposed amendments, the duty on cigarettes, bidis and heated tobacco products would be reduced to MVR 4 per unit from MVR 8. The legislation would also facilitate the availability of smoking cessation products such as nicotine gum and nicotine patches in the local market.