100 people have stopped smoking within a year

Male' City Group of Hospitals (MCGH) CEO Ibrahim Haleem has announced yesterday that more than 100 people have quit smoking with the help of Tobacco Cessation Clinics. 

In a statement released in celebration of World Heart Day, Haleem said that even though heart disease is the leading cause of death in the world, it is one of the diseases with the highest prevention rates.

Haleem has expressed concern due to a younger population having fallen victim to such problems.

He went on to say that hospitals aren't the only places that should be paying attention to this. Haleem highlighted that those in higher positions in charge of health policies need to quickly pay attention to this issue as well, and stated that related institutions are working towards providing a more effective service.

Continuing off of that, he said that there has been an increase in programs that help people stop smoking, with success being seen.

Haleem also said that from 29th August 2024 until yesterday, more than 356 people had gone to cessation clinics. Out of the 356, 101 people had stopped smoking, with them having not smoked for more than three months.

One of the treatments offered by cessation clinics is Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NCT). It is a three month program, with nicotine gum and other services being offered under Aasandha.

Haleem said that there are awareness sessions being conducted in conjunction with the public and health service offices.

He highlighted that this would help in people being able to identify rising blood pressure, high cholesterol and the dangers of smoking, which would facilitate the monitoring of such conditions.

The slogan for World Heart Day 2025 is "Don't Miss a Beat". It calls for being aware of heart health, to not delay health checkups and identifying symptoms of types of heart diseases. 

The MCGH is working towards the advancement of cardiovascular care.

In relation to that, a catheterization laboratory was opened in IGMH last November. It was a historic project that was done with no international help and with the help of Maldivian clinicians for the first time in Maldives. 

Haleem said that there is work being done to begin endovascular neurosurgery and cardiothoracic surgery.