This issue was recently highlighted by HPA as the World Health Organisation (WHO) highlighted the far-reaching negative implications of smoking in the Maldives with statistics, which implies that approximately 150 Maldivians die annually as a result of smoking.
The Mirror
Smoking is a growing health crisis in the Maldives, with far-reaching impacts on individuals, the economy, and the environment. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) highlights a concerning trend: diseases directly linked to smoking claim the lives of approximately 150 Maldivians annually.
This issue was recently highlighted by HPA as the World Health Organisation (WHO) highlighted the far-reaching negative implications of smoking in the Maldives with statistics, which implies that approximately 150 Maldivians die annually as a result of smoking. This issue is also becoming more pronounced among the youth, who are increasingly picking up smoking, hookah (shisha), and vaping. Although smoking has been a trend that was looked down on over the years, it appears that with the popularity of smoking shisha as well as vaping, the trend of smoking in social settings has increased yet again. Even as the Maldives moves towards a more sustainable future and cancer rates increase the trend of smoking, vaping as well as smoking hookah or shisha has become extremely popular.
The statistics are stark and troubling. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco use is a leading cause of preventable death worldwide, and the Maldives is no exception. The HPA reports that around 400 million cigarettes are imported into the Maldives each year, costing the nation MVR 1.8 billion (approximately USD 116.7 million). This staggering number reflects a deeply ingrained habit among the population, especially the younger demographic. Although smoking hookah or sheesha has been ingrained in society from early on, the smoking habits among Maldivians appear to have gotten much worse in recent years. Every corner one turns, the air is polluted with the smoke from cigarettes or vapes - and if not that, it’s the toxic smoke from the increased amount of vehicles in the Maldives.
The financial implications of smoking extend beyond the cost of tobacco products. The Maldivian universal health insurance scheme, Aasandha also shoulders a significant financial burden due to smoking-related diseases. The treatment of conditions such as lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and heart disease drains public funds, which could otherwise be invested in preventive healthcare and other critical areas of development.
The increasing prevalence of smoking among Maldivian youth is particularly alarming. As young people suffer from smoking-related conditions, their productivity and contribution to the economy are adversely affected. This not only hampers individual potential but also poses a broader economic threat. A workforce burdened with health issues is less effective, reducing overall national productivity and stunting economic growth.
Beyond health and economic costs, smoking also has severe environmental repercussions. The production and disposal of cigarettes contribute to deforestation, pollution, and litter. When it comes to the Maldives, cigarette butts, often carelessly discarded, are one of the most common forms of littering, polluting beaches and marine environments crucial to the Maldivian economy and biodiversity. The cultivation of tobacco also requires substantial agricultural resources, often leading to deforestation and soil depletion in countries producing cigarettes.
As the smoking habits in the Maldives become more normalised, the threat of getting smoking-related diseases not only increases for smokers. Statistics show that second-hand smoke poses an equally alarming threat to one’s health. To make things worse, hookah and vaping are becoming popular alternatives to traditional smoking, especially among the youth. These products are often perceived as safer options, despite evidence suggesting they carry significant health risks. As the trend continues to grow, the concern over the severe negative implications of smoking has become overlooked by the educated youth of the Maldives as well.
