News Desk
Male’ — In a decisive push to curb tobacco consumption and protect public health, the government has announced the creation of a special national award dedicated to individuals and organisations leading the fight against smoking.
Starting next year, the prestigious honour will be conferred annually during the country’s Independence Day celebrations. The initiative is designed to bolster civil society groups, validate their grassroots advocacy, and inspire broader community mobilisation against the health risks of tobacco.
“Safeguarding our youth and building a tobacco-free, healthy society remains a paramount national priority.” President
The announcement underscores a wider, aggressive legislative campaign by the administration to phase out nicotine addiction. President Dr Mohamed Muizzu highlighted several rigorous measures recently enacted, including a comprehensive ban on electronic cigarettes and vapes, alongside plans for a pioneering ‘generational ban’ aimed at restricting youth access to tobacco products entirely.
Addressing adjustments to cigarette import duties, the administration noted that the fiscal shifts are strategically calibrated to prevent the proliferation of more hazardous alternative tobacco products within the domestic market. Together, these sweeping interventions form a cohesive strategy to steer future generations away from addiction and foster a healthier national landscape.
