Jerusalem, 30 January 2014 ---The East Jerusalem Hospitals Network (EJHN) held its third annual conference on 29 January 2014 in Jerusalem.  The aim of the conference was to serve as a forum for Palestinian health care leaders to present and discuss key issues facing the hospitals in East Jerusalem. Areas of focus included financial sustainability in Jerusalem, protection of Palestinian society in Jerusalem, and Jerusalem as a vital part of Palestine. The East Jerusalem Hospitals serve as the main centres for specialized care within the Palestinian health system. 

The conference was supported by WHO and organized by the EJHN as part of the EU-funded project "East Jerusalem Hospitals: Network for Quality". Participants included leaders from the local and international community, and staff from the East Jerusalem hospitals, as well as staff from the hospitals in the West Bank and Gaza. Mr Abdel Qader Husseini, chair of the EJHN, opened the conference. Other keynote speakers included H.E. Dr Jawad Awad, Minister of Health, H.E. Adnan Husseini, Minister of Jerusalem Affairs, and Ms Lamees al Alami, former minister of education. Hospital leaders made presentations on a variety of topics including referrals to East Jerusalem Hospitals and the financial situation within the Palestinian Authority, social issues within the Palestinian community in Jerusalem including drug utilization, access to secondary and tertiary health care services, and inclusive education models.

Tobacco-free public places means that all indoor workplaces and indoor public places should be 100% smoke-free.

June 2013, occupied Palestinian territory - The tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced. It kills nearly 6 million people each year. More than 600 000 of these deaths are non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke.

WHO supports the Ministry of Health of Palestine in implementing the provisions of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), an evidence-based treaty that reaffirms the right of all people to the highest standard of health. The Convention represents a milestone for the promotion of public health and provides new legal dimensions for international health cooperation.

As per article 12 of the FCTC parties should promote and strengthen public awareness of tobacco control issues, using all available communication tools, as appropriate.

In line with this, the Ministry of Health and WHO, in cooperation with the National No Tobacco Committee, has initiated a No Tobacco awareness-raising campaign focusing on the right to health and addressing the rights of individuals to be protected from second-hand smoke. 

Under the theme “It’s my right to live in a smoke-free environment”, a number of mutually re-enforcing communication materials have been produced, including radio and television spots, posters and stickers.

The campaign highlights the responsibility of parents in ensuring a smoke-free environment at all times for their children. In addition, it aims to target workers to raise their awareness of their right to work in a smoke-free environment.

No Tobacco campaign's materials (In Arabic): 

TV spot “it’s my right to live in smoke free house”

Coffee shop poster (It’s my right to live in smoke free environment)

Home poster (It’s my right to live in smoke free house)

Work poster (It’s our right to work in smoke free environment)

Radio spot

Sticker (It’s my right to live in smoke free environment)

Other  materials (In Arabic): 

Lightning Billboard