Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu spoke at the launch of the 'Smoke-Free Campus, Healthy Future Project' held at Yeşilay's headquarters in Sepetçiler Kasrı. Emphasizing that tobacco addiction is the country's biggest and worst addiction, Memişoğlu said, 'We are talking about cigarettes and tobacco, to which more than a third of our citizens are addicted. This is a national struggle, a health struggle.'
Minister Memişoğlu stated that Turkey has made significant progress over the last 25 years under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, becoming the world's 17th largest economy and reaching an exemplary position in health. However, noting that the real question is whether we are a healthy society, Memişoğlu listed three major risks threatening the society.
Memişoğlu explained that the first risk is obesity, with 61 percent of people in Turkey being above normal weight and 25 percent of them falling into the morbidly obese category. He noted that the second major risk is physical inactivity, and the third is addiction.
Pointing out that smoking is the main cause of cancer, respiratory diseases, and cardiovascular disorders, the Minister said, 'We will make smoking invisible. We will make a collective effort as a society to quit smoking. We are ready.'
Memişoğlu noted that nicotine leaves the body within 3 days, and the real challenge is the psychological and sociological process, reminding that they provide free medication support to those who want to quit smoking. He said that in 2025, 8 billion packs of cigarettes were sold in Turkey, averaging 117 packs per person, and that Turkey's per capita total health expenditure is 840 dollars.
Making a special appeal to young people, Memişoğlu said, 'Please set an example for your elders regarding cigarettes and electronic cigarettes, and fight against smoking. Quitting smoking is a strength, not smoking is a measure of civilization.'
The program was attended by the President of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, the President of the Turkish Green Crescent Society Mehmet Dinç, faculty members from various universities, and citizens. The event ended after a group photo.
