Gulf tobacco handle committee meets

‏The sultanate, represented by the Ministry of Health (MoH), is hosting the two-day meeting. ‏The committee met in the presence of H E Dr Mohammed bin Saif al Hosni, MoH’s Undersecretary for Health Affairs, and Sulaiman al Dakheel, common manager of the Gulf Health Council for Cooperation Council States along with Dr Said bin Harib al Lamki, director common of Primary Healthcare and member of the Executive Body of the Health Council.

Dr Lamki pointed out that the Gulf Health Council has taken all essential measures to shield nations from the scourge of tobacco use.

He added that the GCC states adopted the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC) and worked difficult to implement its articles. ‏He stated, “It is important that the GCC countries adopt a national and gulf epidemiological surveillance system for tobacco use to monitor the relevant social, economic and health indicators, promote the health, social and economic researches in this field, as well as implementing the national and gulf strategies and plans for tobacco control.” ‏

H E Dr Hosni, who is the chairman of National Committee for Tobacco Control, praised the efforts exerted by the GCC states for tobacco handle and for the appropriate measures that have been taken such as raising tariffs, wellness education, boycotting tobacco businesses, and setting up national committees for tobacco handle.

Information Source: Muscat Daily