The Tobacco Control Center of Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has been re-designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as collaborating centre for the treatment of tobacco dependence for another four years, or until August 2025. 

This re-designation has uniquely placed the State of Qatar and HMC on the map of WHO collaborating centres in regard to tobacco dependence treatment within the EMRO region.

On this occasion, the staff members of the Tobacco Control Center expressed their appreciation and gratitude to the Minister of Public Health HE Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, for her continued support to the centre and its various programmes and projects. They also thanked the HMC Media Department for spreading awareness messages about the centre and highlighting its activities and achievements.

They also thanked WHO Regional Tobacco Free Initiative Adviser Dr Fatima El-Awa and her team for their support in implementing the approved action plan on tobacco control.

Fighting against tobacco use

The HMC Tobacco Control Center has pledged to remain committed to fight against tobacco use through the delivery of treatment and counselling services to smokers, as well as the delivery of community awareness activities and research projects, which will place Qatar among the leading countries in the world in this field.

The centre will also continue to provide training to healthcare professionals across Qatar and the Eastern Mediterranean region to improve their skills and competencies in the field. This will help in the delivery of high-quality tobacco cessation services, which in turn will help reduce the number of smokers and the incidence of tobacco-related diseases and financial burdens.

WHO collaborating centres include research institutes, universities and academies. They are designated to carry out activities in support of WHO’s mandated international health agenda.

The designation as a WHO collaborating centre for treating tobacco dependence will mean that HMC is committed to implement a series of activities to promote smoking cessation and raise awareness on the negative impacts of tobacco use across Qatar, the region and the globe.

For more information about the HMC Tobacco Control Center, visit hamad.qa


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