18 June 2023 – This year, on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day, and in special celebration of the 75th anniversary of WHO, the WHO Country Office in Bahrain released a call for poster presentations to nursing, medical and paramedical students as part of a “Call to action poster campaign”. The goal of the campaign was to help raise awareness of the dangers of the tobacco industry and highlight the global efforts to combat the tobacco epidemic.
Initiated as a global movement in 1998, World No Tobacco Day is marked annually on 31 May, as a call to action to recognize the dangers of tobacco use, the tactics and businesses practices used by the tobacco industry, the global efforts to tackle the tobacco epidemic, and all forms of harm caused by tobacco products and the tobacco industry worldwide.
The theme for World No Tobacco Day 2023 is “Grow Food, Not Tobacco”, a campaign that encourages countries to end subsidies for tobacco farming and encourage farmers to switch to sustainable crops.
The student response was strong, with well presented concepts submitted in line with the theme. The artwork was shortlisted, and 5 students, accompanied by Dr Leena Mohammad Khonji, Director of WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing Development in Bahrain and Dean of the Nursing Programme, visited the WHO Country Office and presented their calls to action in person.
The 5 winners identified were from the first and the third year of the nursing programme. Mariam Mohammed Abdulla Alasbool, Sajidah Abbas Khamis Marzooq, Zahra Abdulghani Khamis, Nariman Ahmed Al Khayat, and Fatema Abdul Hasan Ayyad received certificates of recognition from WHO Bahrain, presented by Dr Tasnim Atatrah, WHO Representative. Dr Tasnim remarked, “The students at the University of Bahrain have shown high levels of engagement and eager contribution in marking World No Tobacco Day. With keen displays of proactive initiative, their contributions highlighted the dedication of the University, its staff and student body, to maintaining a health-promoting atmosphere. We value the important role of the nursing students’ contribution to the World No Tobacco Day campaign. Their dedication demonstrates their valuable role in the future”.
Related link
World No Tobacco Day 2023 (who.int)
The winning students and the delegation from the University of Bahrain visit the WHO Country Office
Mariam Mohammed Abdulla Alasbool receives her certificate from Dr Tasnim Atatrah, WHO Representative and Head of Office, with Dr Leena Mohammad Khonji, Director of WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing Development in Bahrain and Dean of the Nursing Programme from the University of Bahrain
Sajidah Abbas Khamis Marzooq receives her certificate from Dr Atatrah, with Dr Khonji
Zahra Abdulghani Khamis receives her certificate from Dr Atatrah, with Dr Khonji
Nariman Ahmed Al Khayat receives her certificate from Dr Atatrah, with Dr Khonji
Fatema Abdul Hasan Ayyad receives her certificate from Dr Atatrah, with Dr Khonji