Health staff and council enforce ‘Time to Quit’ smoking message

A TEAM of anti-smoking campaigners will be out and about on Wednesday, March 9, in a bid to spread the health message on ‘No Smoking Day’.

This year the theme is ‘Time to Quit’ and as part of the health awareness message, Southern Health Trust Smoking Cessation specialists and Banbridge Council staff will visit a number of local workplaces to promote the benefits of kicking the habit.

Valerie Gough, health promotion officer at the Southern Trust, said, “Research has shown that over two thirds of smokers would like to stop and ‘No Smoking Day’ provides an excellent opportunity for them to do just that.

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“Giving up smoking can be a challenge, but the benefits can be felt immediately, including improved health, saving money, and having more energy.”

The Southern Trust offers a range of smoking cessation clinics locally and last year six in every 10 of those who attended the Trust clinics successfully quit smoking.

Gerard Rocks, Head of Health Improvement for the Southern Trust, also highlighted the advantages of one-to-one support offered in the clinics: “These clinics offer one-to-one support for people who are ready to quit,” he said. “A qualified Smoking Cessation Specialist goes through various stages of stopping smoking, including preparing to stop, setting a ‘quit’ date, actually stopping and then staying stopped.

“We want to help more people this year to improve their own health and the health of those around them by quitting for good.”

Anyone who would like more information should contact Valerie Gough at Craigavon and Banbridge Health Trust - email [email protected] or telephone 028 3831 1487/3834 4973.