DPH-QU hold presentation on tobacco-free campus
Avirtual presentation, hosted by the Department of Public Health (DPH) at Qatar University’s College of Health Sciences (QUCHS), highlighted the importance of implementing a tobacco-free campus.
Titled ‘Towards a TobaccoFree Campus: What Can We Learn from Regional Experience (the case of AUB)?’, the webinar forms part of the “Health Promoting Universities: QU Health-y” virtual initiative that was launched in November 2020.
Dr Rima Nakkash, associate professor at Department of Health Promotion and Community Health at American University of Beirut, was a keynote speaker who was welcomed by QU’s DPH head Dr Manar Elhassan.
In his presentation, Dr Nakkash underlined the significance of a community-based approach in developing a tobaccofree campus policy by collaborating across the university. This will help build a high-level task force which will review the evidence and plan for all aspects of implementation, enforcement, and evaluation.
Implementing a tobaccofree campus aims to build a safe and healthy environment that protects people from involuntary exposure to second-hand smoke. It reduces people’s appetite to smoke and supports those who wish to quit, as well as discouraging non-smokers (especially the youth) to even try it.
“Today’s talk is relevant and timely as an important initiative of having a tobacco-free campus at QU in line with thousands of universities around the world that promote health and well-being by prohibiting the use of tobacco products on campus,” Dr Manar said.
The event concluded with an interactive session, allowing the audience and students to ask questions.