WHO Representative Dr Hamelmann presents the award and certificate to Professor Masjedi11 June 2018 – WHO selected Professor Mohammad Reza Masjedi Secretary-General of the Iranian Anti-Tobacco Association and Tobacco Control Research as a winner of World No Tobacco Day 2018 awards initiated by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. The award was handed over by Dr Christoph Hamelmann, WHO Representative of Islamic Republic of Iran, in recognition of outstanding contributions and commitment to tobacco control in the country.
Professor Masjedi’s many efforts and achievements include:
- close collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Medical Education in the Supreme Court's vote in 2017 to confirm the Ministry's advice on banning the importation and production of tobacco molasses and aromatic tobacco products, which have been shown to be harmful to health;
From left: Professor Akbari Director of the Cancer Research Institute, Dr Raeisi Deputy for Health of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Dr Hamelmann WHO Representative in Islamic Republic of Iran, Dr Ranjbar WHO Technical Officer, Dr Shojapourian Deputy for Social affairs of Tehran Municipality, Ms Nasiri Director of Health Department of Tehran Municipality, Dr Tabatabaei Advisor to the Deputy for Social Affairs of Tehran Municipality, and Professor Masjedi, Secretary General of Iranian Anti-Tobacco Associationoutstanding role as Secretary-General of Iranian Anti-Tobacco Association in designing and conducting the Prevention of Tobacco Dependence project (PAD) in collaboration with the education and health departments in Varamin (the project aims to reduce the use of tobacco products at schools based on the peer-peer education approach and makes important contributions to address the increasing trend of smoking in adolescents in the country);- outstanding role in the establishment of the Iran Noncommunicable Diseases Alliance that is an excellent platform for strengthening nongovernmental and community-based organizations in their efforts to raise awareness and reduce of common
Message of WHO Regional Director for Eastern Mediterranean on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day 2018 is delivered by Dr Hamelmann risk factors of noncommunicable diseases, including tobacco.
Dr Hamelman congratulated Professor Masjedi and the Ministry of Health and Medical Education for their achievements in tobacco control. He highlighted the important role of Dr Alireza Raeisi, Deputy Minister for Public Health Affairs, and Mr Behzad Valizadeh, Head of the National Tobacco Control Secretariat, in increasing tobacco tax in the budget law and Supreme Court's vote in tobacco molasses and aromatic tobacco products. WHO is recommending at least 70% of the retail prices as tobacco tax.
Related links
Prevention of tobacco dependence project (PAD) ceremony held in Varamin, 28 May 2018
World No Tobacco Day
31 May 2018
