The 2nd Regional Summer Course "Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) policies and their implementation in Arab Countries" Beirut, Lebanon 2010
05/07/2010
This
year the Tobacco Control Research Group- hosted by the Center for Research on
Population and Health of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the American
University of Beirut (AUB) - and the Syrian Center for Tobacco Studies (SCTS)
in collaboration with Framework Convention Alliance (FCA) Eastern Mediterranean
region, the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT), and Tobacco
Free Kids (TFK) co-hosted a workshop on FCTC policies and their implementation
in Arab Countries. The workshop was held at AUB over
the period June 28 - July 1, 2010. The training was planned by the AUB team in
collaboration with Dr. Wasim Maziak, Director of SCTC and Dr. Fouad Fouad, SCTS
Coordinator.. The workshop consisted of 25 sessions over 4 days. There
were 5 case studies and a role-play session. The following topics were discussed: A review of FCTC history,
regulations, and current status. Methods to evaluate effectiveness
of tobacco control policies. Overview of smoke free
legislation in the EMR and fundamentals of smoke free workplace laws. Taxation and bans on
advertising. Introduction of quit line
services. Results of different
studies from Syria and Lebanon. Strategies to influence
policy makers. Smuggling in the EMR. Lab models to evaluate
water pipe. Network science and its
role in developing scientific collaboration to support the implementation of
evidence-based practice. Creating a network of
healthcare providers in EMR. Action planning and
recommendations.
On the last day, Dr. Leischow and
Dr. Ward facilitated a session on next steps. All workshop attendees (both
trainers and participants) suggested important next steps which were listed in
a flip chart and posted on the wall. Then each person was asked to prioritize 3
of the points. Common points were
combined. Four priority areas were identified: 1) Ensure continued communication: this will begin by
the establishment of a list serv. Mawya Zawawi Hammad volunteered to begin
this process. 2) Follow-up on a regional project on tobacco dependence
treatment including focusing on treatment issues in the next meeting - the
Jordan team will follow-up on this point. 3) Follow-up on research on surveillance and ensuring
common measurement of exposure etc across the region. Wasim Maziak
volunteered to follow-up on this. 4) Identification of research gaps in the region - the
AUB Tobacco Control Team will take this on. 5) Developing a regional funding proposal together. In addition, it was agreed that
the next workshop will be held in Jordan in Spring/Summer 2011.
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