Date:30/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/30/stories/2008103055000500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Tobacco cessation centres in colleges

Ramya Kannan

CHENNAI: The State government intends starting tobacco cessation centres in every medical college in Tamil Nadu and train private practitioners to help people kick their addiction to tobacco.

Currently there is only one tobacco cessation centre, which is being run by the Cancer Institute, Adyar; there is none in the government setup.

The government, looking at all-round implementation of the anti-tobacco policy, is keen that more facilities be provided to help those desirous of getting rid of their tobacco-addiction.

No increase in number

That will only be possible if more cessation centres are started in as many districts as possible and if private practitioners chip in, according to T.S. Sevlavinayagam, State Tobacco Control Officer in the Directorate of Public Health. The training module recommended by the WHO will be used.

While the number of people seeking the services of a tobacco cessation clinic has not gone up since the implementation of the ban on smoking in public places, it is believed that a lot of time has to be invested in anti-tobacco activities before the people start coming.

Time-consuming exercise

E. Vidhubala of the Cancer Institute’s tobacco cessation centre says the process of drawing people to de-addiction centres voluntarily will take a lot of time.

“We have to wait and see how things work. Culturally there is acceptance for tobacco. We have to demolish that slowly, but surely, and through persistent efforts.”

The State Tobacco Control Cell and the TCC will soon train multiple stakeholders from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka and the Union Territories of Puducherry, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep in the implementation of the law and possible rehabilitation measures for farmers cultivating tobacco.

As for the implementation of the Act, Tamil Nadu has collected more than Rs.3.53 lakh in fines over the month (the ban came into effect on October 2) from 3,800 people.

“This is among the highest amount collected in the country, and the performance of every district has been good,” said S. Elango, Director of Public Health.