WHO honours Professor Sohel Reza for his role in tobacco control

The World Health Organization (WHO) has honoured Professor Sohel Reza Choudhury for his contribution to tobacco control on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day 2021.

The head of the Department of Epidemiology and Research, National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute (NHFH&RI) ), has received the Regional Director's Special Recognition for the Southeast Asia Region this year, said a press release.

Professor Sohel Reza has been recognised for his outstanding contribution to tobacco control in Bangladesh.

He has been serving as the Member Secretary of the 'United Forum Against Tobacco (UFAT)' and 'Bangladesh Network for NCD Control and Prevention (BNNCP)', which were formed with the initiative of National Professor Brigadier (Retd.) Abdul Malik, Founder, and President of National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh. The UFAT and BNNCP consist of professional organizations of specialist physicians work for tobacco control in Bangladesh.

Professor Sohel has been instrumental in amending the Tobacco Control Law, formulation of rules, formulation, and implementation of Health Development Surcharge Management Policy, formulation and implementation of Tobacco Free Health Center Implementation Guidelines, National Tobacco Control Policy, and draft Tobacco Control Policy.

A Tobacco Cessation Clinic has been set up at the National Heart Foundation Hospital under the direct supervision of Professor Sohel Reza Choudhury. He has conducted training programs for doctors and nurses to make patients interested in quitting tobacco. Besides, Professor Sohel has played an active role in various research and survey activities on tobacco control conducted at the national level at different times.

Earlier, in 2014, the founder and president of the National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh, National Professor Brigadier (Retd.) Abdul Malik won the World Health Organization's World No Tobacco Day Award.