June 3, 2009 (WAM) -- At a formal gathering in Ras Al Khaimah on the 1st of June, officials from Ministry of Health announced that they had received an unprecedented response to No Tobacco Campaign, an awareness drive to acquaint residents about the dangers of tobacco consumption. "It has been a successful initiative by all standards. We set out to educate people about the hazards and to elicit a response. The campaign has received almost 10,000 pledges from smokers who have refrained from smoking on 31st of May which is observed globally as the World No Tobacco Day," said Dr Wedad Al Maidoor, Head of the National Tobacco Control Committee, Ministry of Health UAE.

"This is only a first step and we aim to build it up consistently. This initiative definitely presents itself as proof of a strong synergy between the corporate, government, students and residents." The campaign has received a tremendous support across the nation and has been welcomed equally by all. Green Crescent Insurance Company comes on board as the main sponsor.

"One of the steps to mitigate the growth of this dreaded habit is education and encouraging consumers to quit. This campaign has been designed to incorporate all these elements and has reached out from labour camps to corporate leaders, students to housewives, tobacco consumers to passive smokers. Green Crescent is dedicated to preventive health education and partnering with such an opportunity is indeed our demonstration of this commitment by putting your health first," said T.B.(Mac) McClelland Jr. the director of strategic development in Green Crescent Health insurance .