National Service Academy, Tobacco Control Center join hands to fight smoking

Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Tobacco Control Centre, a WHO Collaborating Centre, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Service Academy.

The MoU was signed by Brigadier General Dr Asaad Khalil Assad, commander of medical services at the Ministry of Defence, and Dr Ahmed al-Mulla, head of HMC's Tobacco Control Centre, in the presence of HE Staff Major General Saeed bin Hamad al-Nuaimi, president of the National Service Academy, and Dr Saleh Ali al-Marri, Assistant Minister of Public Health for Health Affairs in the Ministry of Public Health.

The MoU aims at fostering collaboration between the two organisations in terms of providing technical support on smoking cessation at the National Service Academy, as well as in other areas of common interest such as co-operation in research, training of medical staff, and participation in awareness activities. A smoking cessation clinic was also opened on the sidelines of the MoU signing ceremony at Miqdam Camp by the president of the National Service Academy, the head of HMC's Tobacco Control Centre, and the Commander of Medical Services at the Ministry of Defence. Present at the MoU signing ceremony and the opening of the new clinic were also a number of senior officers of the National Service Academy and a delegation from the Tobacco Control Centre. The two parties exchanged plaques of appreciation during the event that coincided with World No Tobacco Day, observed annually on May 31.