DH launches training program on tobacco control for experts in WHO Western Pacific Region to promote local tobacco control exchange
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The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the Department of Health (DH) today (October 13) introduced the five-day Annual Training Programme on Tobacco Control 2025, to help tobacco control workers from nations and areas within the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region to establish suitable and detailed tobacco control techniques in accordance with WHO suggestions.
In April 2012, the DH was designated by the WHO to develop the Collaborating Centre for Smoking Cessation and Treatment of Tobacco Dependence in Hong Kong, China, to work as a local center that supports smoking cigarettes cessation training for other member states/regions within the Western Pacific Region. The Training Programme is structured according to the WHO’s tobacco control procedures, covering legislation, police, promotion and advocacy, along with the advancement and assessment of cigarette smoking cessation services, and so on. It gears up individuals with the understanding required to manage the tobacco epidemic through thorough methods and to prepare tobacco control procedures in a more positive way.
Speaking at the opening event, the Head of TACO, Dr Manny Lam, stated, “This year, 40 participants from the Chinese Mainland, the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), Malaysia, Vietnam and Tonga participated in the online programme. Since the establishment of the Collaborating Centre for Smoking Cessation and Treatment of Tobacco Dependence in the Hong Kong SAR, over 300 tobacco control personnel from government agencies and non-governmental organisations in the Western Pacific Region have participated in the Training Programme organised by the DH. Their positive feedback has enabled us to continuously refine and enrich the programme.”
The Technical Lead for Tobacco-Free Initiatives at the WHO’s Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Ms Mina Kashiwabara, likewise went to today’s opening event and provided remarks.
The DH has actually welcomed a variety of abroad and regional professionals to share their important experience in tobacco control. TACO personnel likewise informed the individuals on Hong Kong’s policy and enforcement of brand-new smoking cigarettes items, cigarette smoking cessation services and smoking cigarettes cessation assistance for health care employees.
In addition to the Training Programme, TACO likewise supplies thorough smoking cigarettes cessation training courses for health care specialists in Hong Kong and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area every year to boost their abilities in supplying counselling and treatment for tobacco reliance. TACO likewise arranges yearly training courses on Chinese medication acupuncture to assist frontline Chinese medication professionals even more enhance their understanding and abilities in cigarette smoking cessation.
The Hong Kong SAR Government has actually presented numerous tobacco control procedures, consisting of enhancing smoking cigarettes cessation services. The DH will continue to actively promote cigarette smoking cessation services and offer ongoing assistance in cessation training and help. Members of the general public can call 1833 183 or check out the smoking cigarettes cessation thematic site to learn more on stopping and the offered assistance tools and services.