The Cabinet has decided to expand the national campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco and nicotine by involving non-governmental organizations and figures from the sports sector.

The President's Office stated that the Cabinet made the decision based on studies conducted by a Cabinet sub-committee regarding the implementation of the campaign and the review of tobacco import duty rates.

Consequently, the decision to expand the campaign by including NGOs and the sports sector was made during the Cabinet meeting held last Sunday, the President's Office said.

According to the President's Office, the Cabinet decided that the first phase of the campaign will involve at least one NGO from each atoll and one NGO from Malé. Additionally, alongside involving Youth Associates stationed in islands, special efforts have been decided upon to ensure that players active in national teams are individuals who refrain from tobacco use.

Therefore, the Cabinet has decided that the Ministry of Health will determine the parties that will participate in the campaign, the President's Office said.

Furthermore, the President's Office stated that the Cabinet has decided that the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, will carry out necessary school-system implementations regarding the enforcement of the announced anti-tobacco generation ban.