December 14, 2025

Under the patronage of Professor Ahmed El-Minshawy, President of Assiut University, the Community Service and Environmental Development Sector at the Faculty of Education launched the “Tobacco-Free Generation” initiative today, Sunday, December 14. The initiative is supervised by Professor Mohamed Ahmed Adawy, Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development, Professor Hassan Hweil, Dean of the Faculty of Education, and Professor Amani Sherif, Vice Dean for Community Service and Environmental Development.

The initiative featured an awareness lecture delivered by Professor Ahmed Shaddad, Professor of Chest Diseases at the Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, and Supervisor of the Smoking Cessation Unit at the Main University Hospital. The lecture was attended by faculty members, teaching assistants, staff, and students.

Professor Ahmed Al-Minshawy emphasized the University’s commitment to students’ health, describing them as a national asset and the driving force of future development. He highlighted the University’s role in promoting health awareness, countering harmful behaviors that threaten youth well-being, and providing a safe and healthy educational environment that encourages positive lifestyle habits. He affirmed the University’s continued support for awareness initiatives that serve both public health and the community.

Professor Mohamed Ahmed Adawy underscored the importance of addressing smoking due to its severe risks to individuals and society, noting that smoking is a primary gateway to addiction. He commended the Faculty of Education for launching the initiative, which aims to educate students and promote a tobacco-free university environment.

Professor Hassan Hweil explained that the initiative reflects Assiut University’s commitment to enlightening youth about the dangers of harmful habits and behaviors that negatively affect health, productivity, and community contribution. He noted that the Egyptian government places high importance on the education and health sectors as fundamental pillars for achieving sustainable development.

Professor Amani Sherif emphasized that the “Tobacco-Free Generation” initiative aligns with the vision of the University and the Faculty in promoting health awareness and supporting national efforts to protect youth from harmful practices. She affirmed that building human capital begins with instilling positive behaviors and that student protection is a shared responsibility of both the University and society.

During his lecture, Professor Ahmed Shaddad discussed the direct and indirect health, psychological, and social impacts of smoking, its negative influence on youth, and the role of the University and community in combating this phenomenon. He highlighted the importance of fostering a culture of smoking cessation and encouraging healthy lifestyle choices within and beyond the university community.

The initiative concluded with the distribution of educational posters promoting smoking prevention and the adoption of healthy behaviors, contributing to a clean university environment and supporting sustainable health for future generations.