A total of 272 smokers have pledged to quit the habit by entering an international competition. The Quit and Win competition, organised locally by the Bahrain Anti-Smoking Society, attracted 259 men and 13 women, society vice-president Dr Mariam Al Jalahma told the GDN yesterday.

The aim is to initially get smokers to quit for four weeks from May 2 to May 29, and then hopefully for good.

Quit & Win is an international anti-smoking contest for adults that has been organised since 1994.

More than 80 countries are participating in the competition, which is supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and has several partners.

At the end of the Bahrain competition on May 29, 10 winners will be selected and called to take a biochemical test to check if they have been smoking.

The first prize-winner will receive BD300, donated by the society, and the others will receive prizes donated by the International Hospital of Bahrain, Bahrain Specialist Hospital, Alba, GPIC, Al Jishi Pharmacy and other sponsors.

The first prize-winner will also be eligible to enter an international draw with prizes of $10,000 (BD3,780) and six regional prizes of $2,500 (BD945).

Source: Gulf Daily