Challenge to help persons quit smoking

Vazhikatti Mental Health Foundation (VMHF) will organise ‘I quit smoking – Challenge 2016’ to play a supportive role in helping persons who want to quit smoking.

Professional bodies such as the Indian Medical Association, Coimbatore Respiratory Society, voluntary organisations and social groups have come forward to support this public health initiative.

Founder and chairman of the organisation K. Selvaraj said the campaign would be launched on May 31 - World No Tobacco Day. Twenty-five competitions including 11 one-day challenges, 10 one-week challenges and four six-week challenges would be organised from the first week of June to the last week of October. Campaign coordinator J.S. Santhosh said the competitions attracted cash prizes and gift vouchers worth Rs. 1,000, Rs. 3,000 and Rs. 10,000 respectively depending on the format the participants choose. It was open to people residing or working in Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode and The Nilgiris and had the desire to quit smoking or use of other tobacco products.

“Participants should undergo one-time compulsory counselling, a series of tests and should adhere to a set of norms after they are selected through a lucky draw format. Selected participants will be monitored by a panel of experts,” he said.

The participant must pass through a screening test and introduce a well-wisher who will monitor the participant and play a supportive role. Registration forms can be submitted online at www.iquitsmoking.in. It will be operational from May 31.

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