Aligning with the directives of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research that aim to promote health awareness among students, the College of Political Science at the University of Baghdad organized an awareness workshop entitled “Combatting Smoking: Between Health Protection and Legal Enactment.” The workshop targeted first-year students in the Department of International Studies.
The workshop was led by Asst. Prof. Basma Khalil Al-Auqati, Head of the Psychological Counseling and Educational Guidance Unit at the College, with the participation of several unit members. In the opening remarks, she elucidated the importance of this initiative within the framework of the official directives of the Ministry, which, in turn, confirmed the necessity of promoting awareness of the health risks of such harmful behaviors, particularly smoking.
The workshop featured two research papers:
• The first paper, entitled “Smoking Behaviors and the Contributing Factors among University Students,” by Asst. Prof. Abeer Mohammed Abed examined prevalent smoking patterns among students together with the psychological and social factors affecting them while also highlighting the significant role of psychological counselling in the prevention strategy.
• The second paper, entitled “The Legislative Value of Iraq’s Anti-Smoking Law,” was presented by Lecturer Dr. Alia AbdulAmeer Abdul Majeed. She elucidated the legal frameworks for smoking prevention while highlighting the effectiveness of enforcing these regulations within educational institutions.
The workshop witnessed active engagement from the audience, featuring discussions that encouraged students to share their opinions and inquiries and ultimately enhancing their awareness of smoking-related risks and the necessity of complying with enforced regulations.
In the closing remarks, several recommendations evolved, including promoting awareness campaigns within the institution and intensifying psychological counselling for students, which ultimately contribute to creating a university environment free from harmful behaviors and, thus, fostering an educated risk-conscious student community.
