Doha, May 31 (QNA) - May 31 of each year marks the celebration of World No Tobacco Day, an occasion through which the World Health Organization highlights the health, social, and economic risks associated with tobacco use and exposure to its smoke.

This year’s theme aims to shed light on the methods used by tobacco manufacturers to target youth by promoting attractive products with various flavors to draw them into the world of smoking in its various forms.

Tobacco use is one of the leading preventable causes of death, as WHO estimates indicate that more than 10 million people die annually as a result of tobacco use, including about 1.3 million non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke.

The celebration of this occasion aims to raise public awareness of the harms of tobacco, and to contribute to protecting current and future generations from its serious health, environmental, economic, and social consequences.

In this context, those concerned with combating tobacco use urge governments to protect youth from the aggressive and deceptive marketing tactics employed by the tobacco industry, which targets youth to achieve lifelong profits by establishing a renewed wave of addiction.

According to World Health Organization data, children have begun using e-cigarettes at rates higher than those of adults in all regions, with an estimated 37 million children aged 13-15 using tobacco worldwide.

The State of Qatar has worked from an early stage to protect society from the harms of smoking, and according to Amiri Law No. (10) of 2016 regarding the control of tobacco and its derivatives, enclosed public places where smoking is prohibited have been defined, including ministries and other government agencies, public authorities, and private entities frequented by the public, places of worship and their annexes, public transportation, schools, educational and training institutions, universities, hospitals, medical and pharmaceutical centers and facilities, airports, sports facilities, shops and commercial complexes, cinemas, theaters, hotels, elevators, covered parking areas, industrial facilities and locations selling petroleum, gas, and their derivatives, as well as restaurants and cafes that serve food or drinks, unless they are licensed to display tobacco or its derivatives such as cigarettes.

On Feb. 22, 2022, the Ministry of Public Health in the State of Qatar issued Decision No. (2) prohibiting smoking in enclosed public places such as ministries, hospitals, schools, educational institutions, transportation, and restaurants, while setting strict regulations for designated smoking areas to ensure the protection of society from the effects of smoking.

In this context, Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Al Mulla, who serves as Director of the Tobacco Control Center affiliated with Hamad Medical Corporation, said in a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the center is one of the first specialized centers in tobacco control in the Gulf region, having played a pioneering role in this field since its establishment.

He noted that the center began its activity in 1999 as a specialized clinic, before evolving into a tobacco control unit in 2017, and later becoming the Tobacco Control Center, which was accredited by the World Health Organization as a collaborating center in 2018. This collaboration was renewed in 2021, and will be renewed again with the organization in August of this year.

He pointed out that this collaboration reflects international confidence in the center's efforts and the advanced position held by the State of Qatar in the field of tobacco control, as well as its ongoing commitment to global health policies.

Dr. Al Mulla confirmed that one of the most notable achievements recorded for the State of Qatar and Hamad Medical Corporation, which must be preserved and strengthened, is that the Center was the first of its kind in the Middle East to be accredited by the World Health Organization as a collaborating center in tobacco control.

Dr. Al Mulla added that the center has made tangible progress in tobacco control efforts, contributing to a reduction in smoking prevalence in the country from 36 percent to 25 percent, according to the latest study conducted within Hamad Medical Corporation in 2021.

He noted in this context that among the major achievements of the Tobacco Control Center was the notable expansion of the network of specialized clinics, having grown from a single clinic to an integrated system of fixed-location clinics.

These clinics are located in several sites, including Hamad Hospital, Al Khor, Al Wakra, and Hazm Mebaireek, in addition to being present in most hospitals, which contributes to enhancing access to smoking cessation services on a broad scale across the country.

Regarding the responsiveness to the services provided by the Tobacco Control Center Dr. Al Mulla said that the widespread presence of the center’s clinics across many cities and regions in the country has significantly helped raise awareness among the public about the availability of such services. He noted that 38% of those who sought the center’s help this year successfully quit smoking, while 3% managed to reduce their smoking. The center is working to include them in its treatment program to help them quit entirely and offer them more opportunities.

Dr. Al Mulla added that in 2023, the center launched a campaign for a smoke-free majlis, which achieved notable results and helped some individuals quit smoking completely, while others at least moved their smoking outside the majlis areas.

Regarding the treatment methods used, he emphasized the center’s commitment to applying the latest scientific approaches. The treatment program is divided into two main parts: the first is the medical component, which begins after a precise diagnosis is made. The center provides all internationally approved and trusted medications to treat the effects of tobacco in all its forms. The second component is psychological support, with the center offering guidance and counseling to smokers of all age groups to improve their behavior and modify their habits, whether they are adults or children.

As for the entities concerned and responsible for tobacco control, Dr. Al Mulla stressed that this mission does not rest on one party alone, but is a shared responsibility that requires collaborative efforts at various levels.

In this regard, he explained that the role begins within the family, where parents bear a key responsibility in refraining from smoking in front of their children, as this has a direct influence on shaping their healthy behaviors. This responsibility then extends to educational institutions, where teachers serve as role models for students, in addition to the vital role played by government bodies, including ministries and hospitals.

He affirmed that combating the tobacco epidemic requires a comprehensive response from society as a whole, through raising awareness, implementing preventive policies, and providing support and treatment services to reduce the harm caused by tobacco and its serious health and economic consequences.

Regarding cooperation and the exchange of expertise at the regional and international levels, the Director of the Tobacco Control Center noted that the center is linked by a cooperation agreement with the World Health Organization, covering multiple areas, including training and the regular organization of conferences, within a strategic partnership and ongoing communication.

He added that the center continues its collaboration with specialized tobacco control centers in the GCC region, stemming from its role as a WHO-accredited center. The center organizes training programs and specialized courses for doctors and healthcare workers, not only in Qatar but also to support medical personnel in the Gulf and the region, through knowledge transfer and providing the technical and educational support needed to strengthen their ability to combat tobacco use.

As part of its regional efforts to transfer knowledge and build capacity, Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Al Mulla said that the center organized a specialized training course last April, in which professionals from the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia participated. This was preceded by another course that included experts and trainees from Jordan and Saudi Arabia, along with representatives from the private health sector in the Middle East, the Gulf countries, and several African nations.

He also noted that discussions are currently underway to sign a new agreement with the UAE side, which includes training a number of Emirati doctors on the latest methods for treating tobacco addiction and combating smoking. This comes in light of the UAE’s move to expand its services in this field by establishing new centers and opening specialized clinics.

Dr. Al Mulla, concluded his remarks to Qatar News Agency (QNA) by referring to the center’s future plans, stressing that there are still ambitious goals to expand the scope of services offered.

He said they aim to launch mobile clinics that will allow them to reach segments of the population they haven’t yet been able to serve, with the goal of providing support and assistance to anyone wishing to quit tobacco use, as part of a comprehensive vision to promote public health and prevent the harms of smoking.

For his part, Dr. Jaafar Mahmoud, a smoking cessation specialist at the Tobacco Control Center under Hamad Medical Corporation, said in exclusive remarks to (QNA) that the center’s tobacco control efforts are built on four main pillars: scientific research, awareness and health education, medical and therapeutic support, in addition to working to implement policies that protect society from the effects of tobacco use.

He added that the center, in addition to offering medical and behavioral treatments, is keen to ensure accessibility to its services by providing medical consultations via the WhatsApp application, allowing those seeking help to reach out easily and at any time, as part of the center’s ongoing commitment to community service and supporting those who wish to quit smoking.

In conclusion, Dr. Jaafar Mahmoud delivered called on smokers to take initiative and quit this harmful habit immediately. He stressed that continuing to use tobacco may, lead to serious and chronic diseases such as respiratory illnesses, heart disease, strokes, and other health complications. He emphasized the importance of determination and willpower to begin the journey of quitting, affirming that medical support is available and that taking this step at the right time can make a decisive difference in a person’s life and health.

According to experts, the efforts of health authorities concerned with tobacco control are achieving significant progress, especially since the Ministry of Public Health had previously received the World Health Organization’s World No Tobacco Day Award (WNTD Award) in recognition of the efforts made by the ministry in cooperation with relevant entities in the State of Qatar to ensure that the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 events were smoke-free, through the implementation of strict anti-smoking measures inside and outside the eight stadiums designated for the World Cup. (QNA)