President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has been honoured with the World No-Tobacco Day Special Recognition Award by the World Health Organization (WHO), acknowledging his leadership and commitment to protecting public health in the Maldives through robust tobacco control measures.
The award was announced in an official message from WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who praised President Dr Muizzu for his “exemplary leadership and commitment to protecting the health of the people of the Maldives.”
The WHO commended the Government’s efforts to tackle tobacco use and restrict the spread of emerging nicotine products, highlighting a series of recent policy reforms initiated under the President’s leadership.
According to the WHO, the Maldives has made significant progress by ratifying a major amendment to the Tobacco Control Law, expanding smoke-free spaces, banning e-cigarettes and e-liquids, raising the legal age for the sale of tobacco products to 21, and prohibiting all forms of tobacco advertising and sponsorship. In addition, the government introduced higher taxation on tobacco products to reduce affordability and accessibility and established a nationwide cessation programme offering free support at every health facility across the country.
These actions, the WHO noted, represent not only a national milestone but also a powerful example for other countries seeking to reduce tobacco use and its health consequences. The organisation described the vision for a Smoke-Free Maldives as one that will “save lives and improve the health and wellbeing of current and future generations.”
President Dr Muizzu’s recognition by the WHO underscores the Maldives’ growing leadership in public health and its strong policy response to the global tobacco epidemic.