Tribune News Network
Doha
Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Tobacco Control Centre, a WHO Collaborating Centre, joined the world in observing World No Tobacco Day, which is held on May 31. This year’s theme for World No Tobacco Day, ‘We Need Food, Not Tobacco’, was set by the WHO to highlight the impact of tobacco cultivation on the availability of food in the world.
Dr Ahmad Al Mulla, director of HMC’s Tobacco Control Centre, said that Qatar has been a pioneer in the field of combating smoking. “Qatar is one of the countries that do not encourage the cultivation of tobacco or manufacturing of tobacco products. Qatar contributes to reducing the spread of tobacco use by entering into international agreements on tobacco control, developing and implementing several tobacco control policies and legislations, opening several smoking cessation clinics, raising public awareness on the harmful effects of smoking through awareness campaigns and events, as well as by promoting research in the field of tobacco control,” said Dr Al Mulla.
Dr Al Mulla explained that HMC’s Tobacco Control Centre plays an effective role in reducing the prevalence of tobacco use in Qatar by benefiting from its status as a WHO Collaborating Centre to promote efforts to combat tobacco usage, and by focusing on scientific research in the field of tobacco control.
“We also focus on treatment services with the opening of many clinics to help smokers quit through medication and behavioural therapy and we continue our efforts to raise public awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco products through awareness events and workshops,” he said.
This year, HMC will mark the World No Tobacco Day with a series of education and awareness events to raise public awareness of the harmful impact of smoking on health, economic and social levels. The events will focus on the theme of this year’s World No Tobacco Day and will show how smoking has wasted many efforts and funds that could have been better invested in producing all types of food for many people across the world.
Dr Al Mulla stressed the importance of the tobacco control legislations that Qatar has adopted, including the amended Amiri Law No. 10 of 2016 on the control of tobacco and its derivates, which included the amendments to Amiri Law No. 20 of 2002.
“This law has placed Qatar at the forefront in combating smoking and has banned manufacturing and marketing of various tobacco products, including new tobacco products such as nicotine bags, electronic waterpipe (shisha), and heated tobacco products. Other laws have also been issued to support the ban on smoking in closed public places and workplaces. The government also raised the prices of tobacco products in 2019 to reduce tobacco use and encourage more smokers to quit,” Dr Al Mulla said.
Dr Al Mulla highlighted the unlimited support the centre receives from HMC’s management and from HE Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, Minister of Public Health, who chairs the WHO Ministerial Committee on Tobacco Control for the Eastern Mediterranean region. Through this position, Dr Al Kuwari has supported tobacco control activities and programmes in the region.
Dr Al Mulla urged all smokers to take action towards quitting and to make use of the Tobacco Control Centre services. For more information or to book an appointment, call HMC’s Tobacco Control Centre at: 50800959 or 16060.
