Selvaraj (57) of Vallam has been habituated to chewing tobacco for the past ten years. But only recently has the after-effects of the habit got the better of him – giddiness and irritation of the throat being the first signs of danger. The Tobacco Cessation Clinic, started at Vallam Primary Health Centre on June 26 this year, came to his rescue. .Dr.Alarmelumangai, Medical Officer of the Primary Health Centre (PHC), took him to the clinic and counselled him about the ill-effects of tobacco.
A panicked Selvaraj assured her that he will quit the habit. “The counselling given at the PHC helped me” he said.
The clinic was started with the permission of Deputy Director of Health Mathivanan.
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Dr.Alarmelumangai elaborates on the anti-tobacco campaigns. “We have conducted an awareness campaign at Periyar Maniammai University .We are planning to extend the campaign to other colleges and universities. “We also undertook a drive in Vallam town and advised shop owners not to sell tobacco products. We fined people who were smoking in public. Health Inspectors have been empoweredto impose a fine of Rs.200 on people who smoke in public places. But then instead of enforcement, counselling is better.”
The clinic highlights the dangers of using tobacco products through advertisement campaigns.
It has also appealed to people to be on the lookout for children below eighteen years who are asked by parents to purchase tobacco products. The products should not be sold within 100 metres of schools and colleges. This is the only tobacco cessation clinic functioning at a PHC in the whole State, said doctors.
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