As part of ongoing efforts to promote preventive health and encourage healthy lifestyle habits, a special awareness event was held under the “Healthy Lifestyle and Wellness Corner” initiative at Rawdat Al Khail Health Center. The event featured active participation from students of Qatar University’s College of Medicine, in collaboration with the Wellness Department at the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), with the aim of increasing community awareness about the dangers of smoking, its serious health consequences, and the cessation services offered by PHCC.

The event highlighted the wide-ranging harms of all forms of smoking—including traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and shisha—and their association with serious diseases such as cardiovascular disorders, lung, oral, and pharyngeal cancers, and chronic respiratory illnesses. It also addressed the impact of secondhand smoke on physical fitness, immunity, mental health, and overall quality of life.

Students from Qatar University’s College of Medicine delivered simplified, engaging educational content, explaining the components of cigarettes, toxic chemicals produced by burning tobacco, and how nicotine affects the brain and nervous system. They also showcased visual models and illustrative images comparing healthy lungs to smokers’ lungs, as well as child-friendly drawings highlighting the dangers of smoking. These interactive displays helped attract visitors’ attention and encouraged them to seriously consider quitting smoking.

Meanwhile, the PHCC Wellness Department provided comprehensive information about the services available to support individuals in quitting, including Smoking Cessation Clinics, behavioral and menatl support programs, and nicotine replacement therapies. The team emphasized the importance of personal motivation and consistent follow-up to achieve successful and long-lasting results.

The event additionally included quick health screenings for visitors, such as fitness assessments and carbon monoxide level checks for some smokers. These practical tests helped bridge the gap between theoretical information and real health status, strengthening participants’ awareness of their current condition.

At the end of the event, visitors expressed their appreciation for the high level of organization and quality of educational content, stressing the importance of continuing such community health initiatives that protect individuals from harmful behaviors and promote a culture of prevention before treatment.

This event stands as a successful example of collaboration between Qatar University and PHCC, a vivid demonstration of the value of community partnership in building a health-conscious society capable of adopting and sustaining healthy lifestyle practices.

The event was organized under the supervision of the Wellness Department at the Preventive Health Directorate and Rawdat Al Khail Health Center, supervised by Dr. Abdullah Al-Naama, with the participation of medical students Dima Al-Ruwaili, Abdulatif Al-Hurr, Shareefa Al-Ahn, Sabika Al-Obaid, and Shahd Al-Ansari, and supervised by Dr. Aisha Al-Khinji from the Student Affairs Office at Qatar University College of Medicine.