Ministry of Health signs MoU for the opening of Smoking Cessation Clinics in Fujairah and Ajman

The U.A.E. Ministry of Health (MoH), represented by Dr. Ali Shaker, Under-secretary, Ministry of Health and Novartis Consumer Health represented by Mr. Hatem Hammad, Business Unit Head for the GCC, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today, to open two more smoking cessation clinics in Fujairah and Ajman.

Also present at the signing was Dr. Wedad Al Maidoor, Head of the Smoking Cessation Committee, Ministry of Health, and Dr. Muna Al Kuwari, Director of Central Primary Health, Ministry of Health.

"This is another step in the plan to control the smoking epidemic that has spread across the U.A.E," said Dr. Ali Shaker. "By providing the public with adequate support and easy access to treatment, we hope to encourage smokers to improve their quality of life by giving up smoking," he added.

These clinics are the next phase in the Ministry of Health's expansion plans to establish clinics across the U.A.E. The Ministry of Health currently operates clinics in Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah that provide smokers with support and mentoring from qualified medical professionals. All smokers are encouraged to visit the clinics for a free check up. U.A.E nationals can also receive free treatment to help them give up smoking.

"Smoking is highly addictive and we understand that people require immense amount of assistance emotionally as well as medically," said Mr. Hammad. "At the cessation clinics we provide smokers with the relevant means to assist them in their plight to quit. With the new clinics in Fujairah and Ajman we are reaching out to the other Emirates to ensure everyone benefits from our smoking cessation programmes," added Hammad.