Djibouti(Mogadishu24)-The Ministry of Health in Djibouti, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), has launched a workshop aimed at raising awareness on combatting drug and tobacco use.

The initiative is part of a broader strategy to reduce the health consequences of drug use and tobacco, extending from 2024 to 2028.

The Ministry has focused on increasing knowledge about the national strategy to combat diseases caused by drugs, particularly tobacco. During the meeting, plans and measures were introduced to address the health risks associated with tobacco use.

Djibouti’s Minister of Health, Dr Ahmed Robleh Abdilleh highlighted that efforts to prevent the impact of tobacco and drugs began in 2007, aiming to reduce the severe diseases caused by substance abuse.

The WHO representative in Djibouti praised the country’s progress in limiting tobacco use, aligning with a global effort to decrease drug-related deaths. WHO noted that millions of people worldwide die each year from drug use.

A study by Djibouti’s Ministry of Health revealed that 549 people die annually in the country due to diseases related to drug use, underscoring the urgent need for measures to mitigate the health risks of tobacco.