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Overview of Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking (WTS) Knowledge Hub (KH)

Newsletter 2021

 

COVID 19 online report with WHO EMRO

Published the report: "Towards understanding the Waterpipe Industry in the Middle East"

 

Please read the report on the link below:

TOWARDS UNDERSTANDING THE WATERPIPE INDUSTRY IN THE MIDDLE EAST: IT'S STILL TOBACCO

Basic Skills for Tobacco Cessation from MAY 19 – JUNE 9, 2021 VIA WEBEX

Organized by the Knowledge Hub for Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking (KHWTS) at the Faculty of Medicine and the AUB Health and Wellness Center, in line with WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY (WNTD): This online course was  designed for health care workers and professionals who want to gain basic skills and knowledge to help tobacco users quit smoking.

It introduced  basic knowledge on  tobacco use, nicotine products and nicotine dependence. It provided the attendees with the basic concepts of behavioral counseling therapy and motivational interviewing techniques in smoking cessation and finally it offered  the most up-to-date evidence based tobacco cessation treatment pharmacology and strategies.

This course was  a four-hour online program that was  conducted weekly between May 19 and June 9, 2021. The Course Director was:

Maya Romani, MD, DipIBLM, TTS, CCWS

Assistant Professor of Family Medicine

Tobacco Treatment Specialist

Director, Health and Wellness Center

Faculty of Medicine

American University of Beirut

 

For more details check the link below:

https://extranet.who.int/fctcapps/fctcapps/fctc/kh/wts/news/basic-skills-tobacco-cessation-may-19-june-9-2021-webex/

 

 

Interview with Dr. Ghazi Zaatari on Tele Liban on Ahla Sabah

Please check the full video on the link below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4UkliRcCdc&t=363s

 

World Tobacco Day 2021 (WNTD2020)

The Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking Knowledge Hub (WTS-KH) successfully planned a Webinar for World No Tobacco Day #WNTD2021 Webinar on Monday, Jun 14 from 4:00- 5 PM Beirut Time. This webinar was in line with the World Health Organization (WHO) 31st May 2021 of World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) which is focused on tobacco cessation - “Commit to Quit”.

Topic: Waterpipe smoking cessation: Facts and updates

Speakers: Dr. Maya Romani, MD and Dr. Hassan Chami, Associate Professor of Medicine with subspecialty in Pulmonary & Critical Medicineat the American University of Beirut.

 

On this occasion, Dr. Zaatari had an interview by the leading newspaper in Lebanon, An-Nahar, where he discussed the challenges facing tobacco control in the country and emphasized the importance of regulating waterpipe smoking during this critical period in Lebanon and the region, where political and economic stability are a major concern. 

 

Webinars

In its efforts to highlight the knowledge on waterpipe smoking and discuss contemporary issues related to waterpipe use, the KH-WTS organized this year a series of webinars:

March 9, 2021

From 4 – 5 PM

Beirut Time

Elasticities of Demand For Cigarette and Waterpipe Tobacco Products in Three Eastern Mediterranean Countries

 

Objectives:

 

1.Present recent and comprehensive own- and cross-price elasticities of demand for cigarettes and Waterpipe tobacco products in three Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) countries: Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine

 

2.Discuss the implications of these results to taxation and other fiscal policies aimed at tobacco control in the EMR

 

 

Dr. Ali Chalak

ECON-WTS consortium

Associate Professor of Applied Economics

American University of Beirut

Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences

Department of Agriculture

 

 

 

 

Please visit this page to view all the webinar presentations

https://extranet.who.int/fctcapps/fctcapps/fctc/kh/wts/webinars/

 

 WTS-KH website database is updated

We are updating the database with 2020-2021 new articles: The WTS-KH library database has a searchable electronic index of published, reliable resources. It has access to a wealth of useful research materials from academic journals, newspapers and is updated: The WTS online database can be found on the library page and searchable by subject of interest, Pub Year, Descriptors and Author. -Please check the link below for more details:

https://untobaccocontrol.org/kh/waterpipes/references/

 

Participation in International

Dr. Ghazi Zaatrai participated in the SNRT-Europe Meeting on September 17 on WHO sponsored symposium on Regulation of Novel Emerging Nicotine and Tobacco Products Dr. Ghazi Zaatari participated in the Meeting on Implementation of WHO FCTC by Parties Experiencing Complex Emergency Situations on September 28-30 and made a presentation on the Challenges Facing the Implementation of FCTC in EMRO. Dr. Ghazi Zaatari participated in the regular meetings of the Global Tobacco Regulators Forum

Article on Gender analysis of the elasticity of tobacco smoking: The case of three Arab countries

Waterpipe tobacco smoking rates in the Eastern Mediterranean region are among the highest worldwide, yet little evidence exists on its economics. Estimates of demand elasticities for tobacco products are largely limited to cigarettes. This study,  conducted by the Eastern Mediterranean Consortium on the Economics of Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking, aimed to estimate own-price and cross-price elasticities of demand for cigarettes and waterpipe tobacco products in Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine. The results of the study serve as a strong evidence base for developing and implementing fiscal policies for tobacco control in the Eastern Mediterranean region that address cigarettes and waterpipe tobacco products.

The Eastern Mediterranean Consortium on the economics of Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking (ECON-WTS)

The American University of Beirut (AUB) and its regional partners in Jordan, Palestine, and Egypt propose the Eastern Mediterranean Consortium on the economics of Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking (ECON-WTS) to strengthen multidisciplinary and multi-institutional leadership in generating economic evidence to support waterpipe tobacco control.

Website & Social Media

To learn more about the mission WTS-KH and its activities, visit the following sites:

 

 

     

    Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking (WTS) Knowledge Hub (KH)

    Newsletter for 2020

    COVID-19 online awareness brochure

    The WTS-KH generated online brochures and  disseminated them on its social media platforms. The brochures presented scientific information answering important questions related to waterpipe tobacco smoking and COVD19 during the quarantine.

    Please view  the online brochures in Arabic and in English on the link below

    https://extranet.who.int/fctcapps/fctcapps/fctc/kh/wts/news/what-do-we-know-about-covid-19

    COVID-19 online report with WHO EMRO

    The WTS-KH generated a report in collaboration with the World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO) under the title: “Questions and answers on tobacco use, including waterpipe use and COVID-19 in the Eastern Mediterranean Region”. Please view the report on the link below

    https://extranet.who.int/fctcapps/sites/default/files/kh-media/March-tobacco-use-and-COVID-19-updated.pdf

     

    COVID-19 impact on smokers and waterpipe users

    The WTS-KH team generated a brief summary on  smokers’ risks of contracting COVID-19 as compared to non-smokers. Please view  the report  on the link below

    https://extranet.who.int/fctcapps/sites/default/files/kh-media/increased-risk-covid-19-infection-amongst-smokers-and-amongst-waterpipe

     

    World Tobacco Day 2020 (WNTD2020) and Dr. Zaatari’ WNTD award for the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO) Award recognition

    AUB Holds the WHO World No Tobacco Day 2020 Award Ceremony: On Tuesday, July 7, 2020, the American University of Beirut (AUB) held  a ceremony on the occasion of  the World Health Organization (WHO) World No Tobacco Day 2020 Award under
    the slogan ‘Protecting youth from industry manipulation and preventing them from tobacco and nicotine use’. The prestigious WNTD award for the Eastern
    Mediterranean Region (EMRO), was granted to Dr. Ghazi Zaatari, Interim Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at AUB. The ceremony was attended by WHO Country Office Director in Lebanon, Dr. Iman Shankiti, AUB president, Dr. Fadlo R. Khuri, the Coordinator of the AUB-Tobacco Control Research Group,
    Dr. Rima Nakkash, WHO Country Office members, dignitaries, AUB leadership, family, and friends. Safe physical distancing measures were observed  throughout the event. The ceremony was also broadcasted live on WebEx. Several WHO regional and international executives  joined the ceremony and gave  testimonies reflecting on Dr. Zaatari’s mentoring skills, achievements, and role as an instrumental member of the organization.
    In his speech, President Khuri said, “Dr. Zaatari is a distinguished and determined scholar and an advocate for a tobacco-free tomorrow like few others. Grateful for his outstanding contributions, both past and current, related to tobacco control, tobacco product regulation, and the health effects of traditional and novel tobacco products. All this despite the difficult circumstances that the university, the country, and the world have been going through in 2020”. AUB is doing everything possible to support committed scholars, physicians, so that their contributions continue, and their visions for a better world and a brighter future become a reality, and so that they can continue to mentor the next generation of stellar students.

    Dr. Shankiti welcomed the audience and announced that Dr. Zaatari is the recipient of the award this year in recognition of  his active efforts against tobacco use and smoking. She indicated that the WNTD Award recognizes individuals or institutions in each of the six WHO Regions based on their outstanding contribution to the advancement of the policies and measures contained in the WHO
    Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and its guidelines, particularly in relation to the theme of World No Tobacco Day. In her address, Dr. Shankiti noted that the WHO will always support the efforts of the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, the American University of Beirut, and all institutions and partners in the fight against smoking, to expand the implementation of all the provisions of the WHO agreement in Lebanon. Dr. Shankiti congratulated Dr. Zaatari, AUB, and Lebanon on an award well deserved at the end of her address.

    Please check all the pictures of the ceremony on this link: 

    https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=waterpipeKH&set=a.1206847746318393 

     

    World No Tobacco Day (WND) virtual competition for the “Youth Anti-Smoking” awareness campaign

    In the wake of the ongoing pandemic, AMALOUNA recognized the importance of  carrying on  with its awareness campaign, albeit virtually, and to reach out to the youth in the  community. Accordingly, this virtual competition was carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and Health and the AUB Wellness Center. It was also supported by the National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS)-Lebanon. Students from public and private high schools were invited to design either a poster, video, or pictorial message about smoking (cigarettes, nargileh, e-cigarettes…). The artworks that should promote an anti-smoking environment or show the adverse effects of smoking were scored by a committee and we are sharing the 1st and 2nd winners for each category.

    AMALOUNA website:

    https://sites.aub.edu.lb/aubmcacc/nkbci/nongovernmental-organisations/

    AMALOUNA Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AmalounaAUB/

    Check the winner videos on our Facebook page:

    https://www.facebook.com/waterpipeKH/videos/287426252545091 

    https://www.facebook.com/waterpipeKH/videos/297949028218235

    WNTD 2020 campaign

    On the World No Tobacco Day 2020, the Chair of  WHO’s  Study Group on Tobacco Product Regulation (TobReg) and WTS-KH  Director, Dr. Ghazi Zaatari, sent  out a   reminder message to the community about the harmful health effects of smoking and tobacco use, including that of  waterpipe smoking.  This is in keeping with the mission of WTS-KH.  To view the message, please visit the following  link:  https://www.facebook.com/AUBMC/videos/247181283380584

     

    The WTS-KH WNTD2020 social media campaign with famous young figures

    The WTS-KH for WNTD20202 in collaboration with social media influencers (Instagram) published good content videos on the dangers of smoking in general and waterpipe smoking in particular on their social media to increase  awareness.

    Message by actress @saraabikanaanofficial

    https://www.instagram.com/tv/CA2mB5zn6W_/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Message by musician @samerzouein

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CA3U4POHLFe/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

     

    WTS-KH working on law enforcement and advocacy with members of the Parliament

    The WTS-KH team has been  in contact with the Chair of the Lebanese Parliament Health Committee, Dr. Assem Araji, to move forward with possible action plans to strengthen Law 174 on tobacco control in Lebanon; however,  the COVID- 19 pandemic slowed the progress and shifted the priorities for the parliamentarians.

    It is still the plan of the WTS–KH to hold  a workshop &/or round table discussion for key stakeholders in the country regarding the reinforcement of Lebanon’s Law 174 and its application to waterpipe smoking.  It is also active in drawing the strategy of the future work of the newly founded Coalition for Tobacco Control Advocacy in the country.

    A workshop on tobacco taxation

    A workshop on tobacco taxation modelling was held, on August 12th 2020, between the UCT WHO FCTC Taxation knowledge hub team and the  “Eastern Mediterranean Consortium on the Economics of Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking (ECON-WTS)  on  how to utilize the Van Walbeek model to design country specific fiscal models. The ECON-WTS is an IDRC funded project that is led by Dr. Rima Nakkash, Associate Professor at AUB Faculty of Health Sciences, Co-director of the WHO Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking Knowledge Hub.  The consortium is collaboration between the American University of Beirut (AUB) and its regional partners in Jordan, Egypt and Palestine, of which the objective is to strengthen multidisciplinary and multi-institutional leadership in generating economic evidence to support waterpipe tobacco control in the region. One of the specific aims of this project is to model the impact of fiscal policies for waterpipe tobacco control on WTS rates, health care costs (WTS-attributable impact), and public revenues. This collaboration between the UCT team and the research team will help in designing curated models that will help in influencing future fiscal policies in the region.

    Webinars

    In its efforts to highlight the knowledge on waterpipe smoking and discuss contemporary issues related to waterpipe use, the WTSKH organized this year a series of webinars:

    Webinar #1 on April 23, 2020

    Topic: Smoking and Smoking Cessation during the COVID19 Pandemic: Facts and Recommendations’ by  Maya Romani, MD, Assistant Professor of Clinical Family Medicine Director of the AUB Health and Wellness Center Associate Director of Family Medicine Residency Program Specialist in tobacco treatment and corporate wellness at the American University of Beirut (AUB)

    For the full webinar recording, please visit the following link

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNORyVQOczo&feature=youtu.be

    Webinar #2 on May 7, 2020

    Topic: Epidemiology of people in Lebanon compared to Jordan: Smoking Habits, Coffee, Occupational Exposure, and the Effect of Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking on bladder cancer and other cancers’ by  Elio George Jara , MD, Postdoctoral Research Fellow Hematology – Oncology Division Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut.

    For the full webinar recording, please visit the following link

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEJNxvI3xf4&feature=youtu.be

     

    WTS-KH working on school awareness sessions

    The WTS-KH started discussions with local active NGOs on educational awareness presentations to youth in schools in Lebanon about the harms of WTS. The WTS-KH is in the process of preparing a well-equipped user friendly and well-targeted educational material to be used for this purpose.

    WTS-KH website database is updated

    The WTS-KH library database has a searchable electronic index of published, reliable resources. It has access to a wealth of useful up-to-date research material from academic journals and, newspapers; the WTS online database can be found on the library page and searchable by subject of interest, Pub Year, Descriptors and Author.

    -Please check the link below for more details:

    https://untobaccocontrol.org/kh/waterpipes/references/

    Participation in international congresses

    Dr. Zaatari has participated in the following meetings that deal with contemporary issues related to emerging tobacco products, their regulations and what lessons can be  learned from regulating conventional tobacco products. Because of the pandemic, all these meetings were virtual:

    1. The 10th Meeting of the Study Group on Tobacco Product Regulation (TobReg) on September 28- October 2, 2020; the meeting focused on electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and heated tobacco products and the challenge they pose in regulating them.
    2. The 4th Meeting of the Global Tobacco Regulators Forum on Nov 5-6, 2020.
    3. The 2nd Eastern Mediterranean Regional Tobacco Control Leadership Program 2020 on November 8-19, 2020. Dr. Zaatari will be moderating a session on “Challenges in Implementing Smoke-Free Environments in the Eastern Mediterranean Region”, and making a presentation on “New Tobacco and Smoking-Related Products: What We Know About Their Prevalence, Use and Regulation”.

    Website and social media

    To learn more about the mission WTS-KH and its activities, visit the following sites:

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuc1zwPfwV1mD-LY0mr-wOA

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