Good health about the body as well as about the mind is essential to us. Staying in good health is important to all of us, and can become particularly important in the future.
Lebanon has consistently improved its health system and registered relatively favourable indicators, despite internal challenges and external shocks. The ministry of public health has developed and implemented plans, aimed at reaching the sustainable development goals, which build on past successes. Lebanon is controlling and preventing disease outbreaks and ensuring universal access to healthcare services. The quality and coverage of health services have been improving. The ministry of public health has a network of 213 primary healthcare centers across the country, which provide services in collaboration with non-governmental organizations, the Ministry of Social Affairs, and municipalities, patients can see medical specialists at a reduced cost and receive basic and chronic disease medication and vaccines free Critical diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis and others are fully covered by the ministry of public health. The strategy’s central goal for the ministry of public health is universal health coverage and it is based on the principle of ‘health as the right of each citizen’. Its strategic goals are:
ref: LEBANON-Voluntary National Review(VNR) on sustainable development goals (SDGs
Special care must be taken by all the active bodies to ensure good health. Among the noble goals that the Islamic university of Lebanon (IUL) aspired to was the improvement of health and wellbeing outcomes. To achieve this vision, IUL set out many collaborative plans to establish its position within the framework of health community service. Namely, the mission was carried by the applied departments in the Faculty of Health including nursing, physical therapy, speech therapy and medical laboratory. In specific, nursing department aims to graduate qualified health professionals with scientific competencies and high work skills, to meet the needs of the labor market in Lebanon and the world.
3.3 Health Impact
In this part of the goal, the actions that the Islamic Lebanese University carries out to improve local and global health and well-being of both the academic community and Lebanon will be shown.
3.3.6 Does your university as a body have a ‘smoke-free’ policy?
Tobacco-Free IUL Policy
Policy Statement
The Islamic University of Lebanon is a tobacco-free university. Smoking, the use of tobacco products or tobacco-related smoking products, is not allowed on the premises of the university.
As such, the following regulations are to be observed:
This policy is intended to be educational, to de-normalize smoking as an acceptable social practice, especially among youth who may otherwise pick up a life-long tobacco addiction during their time at the University. It will also protect members of the community from second-hand tobacco smoke on campus. The success of this policy depends on the thoughtfulness, consideration, and cooperation of smokers and non-smokers. It is the responsibility of every member of the IUL community to not only comply with the policy, but to encourage others to comply with it in order to promote a safe, clean, and healthy work and learning environment.
The policy is intended to give IUL a leading role in the implementation of Law 174, which legislate bans on smoking in all indoor public places; bans tobacco advertisement of all kinds, as well as tobacco sponsorship and promotion; and requires large health warnings on all tobacco packaging. This can be shown clearly in the official paper of Lebanese Law No. 174, page 2.
Cigarette smoking in college is seen as a social activity by those who partake in it, and more than half of the students that are users do not consider themselves smokers. This may be because most college students plan to quit smoking by the time that they graduate. Cigarette smoking on college campuses has become an important public health issue and there has been increase in campus wide smoking bans and other preventive programs to reduce the rates of students smoking.
Besides that, cigarette smoking is the major central public health problem in worldwide communities. Smoking, the use of tobacco products or tobacco-related smoking products, is not allowed on the premises of the IUL Region because, the Islamic University of Lebanon is a tobacco-free place. This can be shown clearly all around IUL community area.
The free smoking policy of IUL is stated in 2014 and updated in 2018 [2]. It’s intended to be educational, to de-normalize smoking as an acceptable social practice, especially among youth who may otherwise pick up a life-long tobacco addiction during their time at the University. It will also protect members of the community from second-hand tobacco smoke on campus. The success of this policy depends on the thoughtfulness, consideration, and cooperation of smokers and non-smokers. It is the responsibility of every member of the IUL community to not only comply with the policy, but to encourage others to comply with it in order to promote a safe, clean, and healthy work and learning environment.
Law No. 174
Tobacco Control and Regulation of Tobacco Products’ Manufacturing, Packaging and Advertising As amended by the Administration and Justice Committee
shall mean places open to the public or places used collectively, regardless of their property. Enclosed public places are, for example but not limited to: official departments, offices and centers pertaining thereto, including public institutions and companies, hospitals, dispensaries, pharmacies, cinemas, theaters, all public and private transportation means, schools, universities, elevators, restaurants, night clubs, shopping malls. Enclosed public places include any of the aforementioned places that is covered by a ceiling and bounded by more than two walls, regardless of the type of materials used for the construction of the ceiling or the walls, and regardless of whether the construction was permanent or temporary. Are considered as well as enclosed public places, all institutions of health, education and sports with all their opened and enclosed annexes.
shall mean possessing or using a lit tobacco product, whether the smoke is inhaled or emitted voluntarily.
shall mean any place used collectively by people while performing their remunerated or benevolent duties, including all related places used by workers collectively, such as corridors, elevators, stairs, stairwells, lobbies, joint facilities, cafeterias, toilets, lounges, lunchrooms, outbuildings including roofs, as well as vehicles used within working hours. “Public transport”: shall mean every vehicle usually used for public transportation purposes.
Policy Statement The Islamic University of Lebanon is a tobacco-free university. Smoking, the use of tobacco products or tobacco-related smoking products, is not allowed on the premises of the university. As such, the following regulations are to be observed:
31 May: World No Tobacco Day 2017
Today (31 May) is the World No Tobacco Day to remind each one of us that we should confront the global tobacco crisis because it affects us all. Here are some quick facts about smoking that you should know:
It is never too late to quit!
For your Health… Quit Smoking Now!
People, especially at early age, start smoking due to peer pressure, smokers in the surrounding including the family, to relax and relieve from boredom or stress, to look cool and trendy in front of the others. Therefore, the strong and the smart ones are not influenced easily by the surroundings and are able to say no to smoking!
As for those who already smoke, many of them want to stop this habit. Quitting is not an easy option and many attempts can fail.. However, stopping is very beneficial since it reduces the risk of developing the mentioned diseases above. In order to stop, many methods/tips can be helpful:
Lastly, using a combination of these methods increases the chance of successful quitting. If you are a smoker and you are reading this, think about it and start today… After all, you are doing it for your health and the health of your loved ones!
For more information about tobacco interventions and laws in Lebanon, check the National Tobacco Control Program of the Ministry of Public Health: http://www.tobaccocontrol.gov.lb/Pages/default.aspx
As a conclusion, IUL supports and agrees with the ministry of public health’s vision concerning the issue of smoking.
Cigarette smoking in college is seen as a social activity by those who partake in it, and more than half of the students that are users do not consider themselves smokers. This may be because most college students plan to quit smoking by the time that they graduate. Cigarette smoking on college campuses has become an important public health issue and there has been increase in campus wide smoking bans and other preventive programs to reduce the rates of students smoking.
Besides that, cigarette smoking is the major central public health problem in worldwide communities. Smoking, the use of tobacco products or tobacco-related smoking products, is not allowed on the premises of the IUL Region because, the Islamic University of Lebanon is a tobacco-free place. This can be shown clearly all around IUL community