Collaboration Between “Iranian Girls’ Association” and the “Iranian Anti-Tobacco Association” to Promote Girls’ Health
A joint meeting between the Women’s Affairs Unit of the Iranian Anti-Tobacco Association and the Iranian Girls’ Association was held to strengthen field cooperation and implement joint projects aimed at raising awareness among adolescent girls and promoting their active engagement in health promotion and tobacco-use prevention.
According to the Public Relations Office of “Jam’iat” (Iranian Anti-Tobacco Association), the session was organized to explore potential areas of collaboration in the field of women’s and girls’ health.
During the meeting, Dr. Mohammad Reza Masjedi, Secretary-General of the Iranian Anti-Tobacco Association, highlighted the dual role of girls as both a target group and a key participatory force in public health initiatives. He proposed the launch of a national campaign titled “Iranian Girls and Health.”
Zahra Sadr, Head of the Women’s Affairs Unit of the Association, expressed appreciation for the participation of representatives from the Iranian Girls’ Association. She referred to previous meetings between the two organizations and noted that, in collaboration with the Non-Communicable Diseases Network, Women’s Affairs Unit, and the Association, plans are being developed to hold an operational girls’ service event focused on health and tobacco prevention. It was decided that both parties would conduct feasibility assessments and submit practical proposals to the designated working group. Dr. Masjedi emphasized the importance of biweekly meetings to review the progress of these initiatives.
Dr. Afsaneh Touseli, Professor at Alzahra University, noted the importance of girls’ participation in the Iranian Girls’ Association, stating that such engagement prevents them from becoming susceptible to health-related risks and helps them become advocates for healthy lifestyles.
Fatemeh Ardabili, Director of the Founding Board of the Iranian Girls’ Association, presented an overview of the association’s activities and announced plans to train girls as specialized health advocates, emphasizing that national bootcamps could serve as a creative platform for empowering girls in health promotion and tobacco control.
Dr. Saeedeh Abbaszadeh, Education Director of the Iranian Girls’ Association, emphasized the importance of developing educational content on women’s and girls’ health and tobacco use following comprehensive training programs.
Ava Moazzami, Director of Social Awareness and Development Events at Neon, proposed that, in light of upcoming sports exhibitions organized by the Iranian Girls’ Association, a dedicated booth on healthy living and girls’ health awareness be established to highlight the organization’s commitment to this field.
Finally, Fatemeh Azim Beig, Expert at the Tobacco Control Research Center, highlighted the significant role of girls’ activism in public health and suggested dedicating a section of upcoming initiatives specifically to the issue of girls and tobacco use.
