Introduction The State of Qatar set up the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ministry of Public Health is ramping up health awareness activities during this critical period. Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health is focusing on three main areas within tobacco control: enforcing a ban on waterpipe use in...

Introduction In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health set up the COVID-19 Follow-up Committee under the chairmanship of His Excellency Health Minister, Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah. The Committee formed from a number of governmental entities and bodies, and it oversees all COVID-19 related activities and...

Introduction The Sudan Federal Ministry of Health ramped up health awareness activities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ministry is focusing on two main areas within tobacco control: a national awareness campaign and enforcing a ban on waterpipe use in public places. Awareness campaign during COVID-19 Sudan’s Federal Ministry of Health, on...

Introduction UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention is focusing on three main areas within tobacco control during the COVID-19 pandemic: enforcing a ban on waterpipe use in public places, a national awareness campaign and adapting smoking cessation services. Ban on waterpipes in public places On 12 March 2020, municipalities of different Emirates had...

Introduction Iraq’s Government has set up a multisectoral Crisis Committee in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Crisis Committee is formed from a number of ministries which collaborate closely to curb the pandemic. Iraq’s Ministry of Health is ramping up health awareness activities during this critical period. The Higher Committee for...

Introduction Kuwait’s Ministry of Health ramped up health awareness activities including tobacco control, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ministry launched, on 31 March 2020, a national campaign to raise awareness of COVID-19 risks and protection measures. Kuwait’s Ministry of Health is focusing on two main areas in tobacco control:...

Introduction The Government of Bahrain set up the Executive Committee headed by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Committee monitors and places measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In addition, a...

29 January 2019 – WHO selected Dr Jawad Al-Lawati, Senior Consultant at the Ministry of Health in Oman to receive the Regional Director’s Special Award for 2018 at a regional workshop in Oman from 21 to 23 January 2019. The award was handed over to Dr Al-Lawati by H.E. Dr Ahmed bin Obaid Al Saidi, Minister of Health in Oman, together with H.E. Eng....

17 December 2018 – The Saudi Food and Drug Authority has informed manufacturers and importers of tobacco products to get ready for applying plain packaging on all forms of tobacco products. This step was done in close collaboration with the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, and in line with WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco...

11 June 2018 – WHO selected Professor Mohammad Reza Masjedi Secretary-General of the Iranian Anti-Tobacco Association and Tobacco Control Research as one of six winners of the World No Tobacco Day award for 2018, initiated by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. The award was handed over by Dr Christoph Hamelmann, WHO...