High numbers of Saudi women smoking

Saudi Arabia was found to have the second most female smokers in the Arab Gulf region, prompting an anti-smoking campaign at a university, officials said. The campaign -- called "lead it" -- kicked off Thursday at Najran University with a speech from Abdul Rahman al-Shamrani, the chairman of the Waaie ("enlightened") society, bikyamasr.com reported. "If there are 8 million smokers in the Kingdom, each consuming one pack at about SR5 [$1.33] a day, then the Kingdom annually spends over SR14 billion [$3.73 million] on cigarettes," al-Shamrani said. A number of government and private establishments are participating in the week-long campaign, including health affairs, the drug-combat police, the university hospital, the faculty of dentistry and the boy scouts, bikyamasr.com said. Doctors were to be on hand for those wishing to give up smoking as part of an exhibition at the university, along with lectures, seminars, cultural competitions and other activities.