I would like to congratulate Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center for instituting a tobacco-free policy on its campus. Use of all tobacco products is prohibited, including smoking, smokeless and electronic tobacco products.Guided by Project H.E.A.L., a program established by the Louisiana Tobacco Control Program to help ease the transition for hospitals as they go 100 percent tobacco-free, this policy will become effective Friday.

The facility is required to comply with The Louisiana Smoke-Free Air Act by prohibiting smoking indoors, but administrators went above and beyond by passing a policy that includes all outdoor areas including parking lots and sidewalks.

The new policy serves as a model for other institutions wanting to go tobacco-free. I applaud Chabert for making health the top priority.

Nakisha Singleton

Regional coordinator, Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living

Thibodaux