Smoking is a serious problem in Jordan.

With around 30 Jordanians dying of smoking-related illnesses every week, the Royal Health Awareness Society launched a major anti-smoking awareness campaign on Wednesday.

Launched in collaboration with the King Hussein Cancer Center, King Hussein Cancer Foundation, Anti-Smoking Society, Linda and Green Hands Society, World Health Organization and the University Consortium for Anti-Smoking, the “Think about us… put it out” campaign invites smokers to conform to the newly reformed health law (2017), which strictly bans smoking in all public areas.

The campaign also focuses on the importance of making Jordanians aware of the health, economic and social implications of smoking.

In addition, the Ministry of Health assigned 600 liaison officers from ministries, and public and private sector companies to keep a close eye on individuals and businesses to ensure that they are abiding by the new health law.

In 2016, a study conducted by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington showed that Jordanian men smoked more than any other group in the Middle East.