HMC Tobacco Control Center showcases its initiative to Shura Council

The Shura Council, headed by HE the Speaker Hassan bin Abdulla al-Ghanim, hosted a team from Hamad Medical Corporation's (HMC) Tobacco Control Center. The objective was to showcase the efforts and achievements of the center and the initiative: "Together for a Smoke-Free Majlis" as a continuation of HMC’s efforts to effectively curb the tobacco epidemic.The meeting was attended by HE the Deputy Speaker of the Shura Council Dr Hamda bint Hassan al-Sulaiti, Cultural Affairs Committee chairman HE Mubarak bin Mohamed al-Kuwari, and other members of the Shura Council.The HMC team was led by Dr Ahmad Mohammed al-Mulla, director of the Tobacco Control Center, a World Health Organisation Collaborating Center. The accompanying team included Dr Maha al-Mohannadi, Dr Jamal Basuhai, and Noor El Nakib. The purpose was to explore ways for the Shura Council’s support of the "Together for a Smoke-Free Majlis" initiative and to effectively boost tobacco control and prevention efforts.Dr al-Mulla briefly presented the journey of Qatar and the Tobacco Control Center in tobacco control and prevention, its vision, the magnitude of the problem of tobacco use in Qatar, the tobacco cessation services and treatment methods provided.Dr al-Mulla also gave an overview of the global statistics of tobacco use, the economical burden due to tobacco-related diseases, the health risks of tobacco use on the society and the health benefits of quitting. He emphasised the need to thoroughly review the law and amend some of its articles, especially those related to the novel tobacco and nicotine products that are rapidly spreading within the community.Al-Ghanim, praised the efforts of HMC’s Tobacco Control Center to control and prevent the spread of tobacco use and affirmed the Shura Council’s support for the center in performing its important role in protecting the society from the harms of smoking, and its continuous pursuit of a smoke-free environment, through the appropriate legislative approaches.Dr al-Mulla commended the role of the Shura Council in supporting campaigns and activities that serve the community at large, such as the initiative for "Together for a Smoke-Free Majlis” and similar activities that lead to a healthier disease-free community.He invited all tobacco users in Qatar to benefit from the free treatment services offered by the Tobacco Control Center at HMC for permanent and early smoking cessation. HMC has requested the support of the Majlis owners and residents of Qatar for the initiative which has a direct impact on the community‘s health.