Smoking cessation

I applaud you for emphasising the important role that should be
played by health professionals to counter tobacco use; even brief and
simple advice from health professionals can substantially increase smoking
cessation rates. Health professionals shall lead by example. They should
act as role models for their patients, by ceasing to smoke, and by
ensuring their workplaces and public facilities are smoke and tobacco-
free. Where I come from heavy smoking tends to be the norm rather than the
exception, nor do the regimes set a good example in this regard. Their
tolerance reflects the absence of a sense of responsibility amongst the
cadres in power, who conspicuously fail to draw the attention of the
public to the grave danger that smoking constitutes to health. Ultimately
the responsibility devolves upon the governments of the region to insist
on the requisite health standards of their populations. We cherish the
hope that this will apply to the Middle East with no less force than those
North European and Mediterranean countries which have adopted a more
enlightened policy.

Competing interests:
None declared