Primary Healthcare Corporation expand cessation services
The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) is expanding its smoking cessation service to give greater accessibility to those wanting to quit smoking. This expansion is part of Qatar’s National Primary Health Care Strategy which aims to reform the primary health care sector through a number of various projects and initiatives.
The service has already been expanded to Al Daayen, Mesaimeer and OBK Health Center, and Abu Bakr Health Center opening their clinic early this year. The original clinic at Al Gharafa Health Center has been in operation since 2013 and is led by Dr Hamad Rashid Almudahka, Consultant in Community Medicine and PHCC’s Health Promotion Manager. He has said in support of the expansion “In my time delivering the smoking cessation service at Al Gharafa Health Center, I have been able to help transform many patients’ lives by helping them quit smoking.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that tobacco kills nearly 6 million people each year and more than 600,000 of those deaths are the result of non-smokers being exposed to second hand smoke.
Approximately one person dies every six seconds due to tobacco use and up to half of current users will eventually die of tobacco related disease. WHO also highlights studies which show that few people understand the specific health risks of tobacco use. For example, a 2009 survey in China revealed that only 38% of smokers knew that smoking causes coronary heart disease and only 27% knew that it causes stroke. PHCC’s smoking cessation service is available to all patients and is led by trained physicians and nurses who will provide a tailored approach to behavioral change including counselling and prescribing of smoking cessation medications.
Mr. Khamis Amer Al-khaldi, Western Region Director for PHCC and Operational Lead for Health Promotion said, “I am very pleased to be leading on the expansion of smoking cessation services for PHCC. It’s very important that we support and encourage patients to lead healthier lifestyles and to be proactive about quitting smoking which will benefit themselves and their family.”
Individuals need to address lifestyle choices that have a direct impact on their physical and mental well-being and PHCC aims to support patients to make the right choices when it comes to their health. If any patients wish to make an appointment to access the service or would like further information they are encouraged to ring the PHCC Customer Service Helpline on 107.
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