Iraq's Ministry of Health revealed, on Sunday, that Iraqis spend nearly three billion dinars (approximately $2 million) daily on tobacco products, underscoring a public health challenge ahead of the country’s National Day for Abstaining from Smoking on February 2.

Dr. Wissam Kilan, Assistant Director of the Anti-Tobacco Program, emphasized that this year’s campaign aims to highlight the health, environmental, and economic consequences of smoking.

"The slogan for this year’s event, ‘Smoking Tarnishes Women’s Beauty and Femininity,’ draws attention to the severe health risks smoking poses to women," Kilan stated. "Globally, smoking kills more than eight million people annually, including 1.5 million women out of 200 million female smokers, the majority of whom live in low- and middle-income countries."