THE provincial government of Compostela Valley is mulling the installation of a Smoking Cessation Clinic in the capitol premises to provide therapy services for employees who are trying to quit smoking.
The plan was agreed upon during a recent Provincial Health Board meeting facilitated by provincial executive assistant Isabelo L. Melendres and provincial health office chief Renato Basañes.
The smoking cessation clinic will be realized through a passage of a resolution from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and an Executive Order from the governor.
This program is another mitigating measure of of the province in promoting healthy lifestyle for capitol employees.
A smoking cessation clinic is defined as a fixed premises where qualified medical professionals/counselors provide smoking cessation therapy to help clients in their attempt to quit the smoking habit.
The therapy can involve individual or group counseling and may include the dispensing of pharmacological aids, if the clinic is registered and equipped to do so.
Smoking cessation is the process of discontinuing the practice of inhaling a smoke substance. Its mission is to reduce the prevalence of tobacco use.
Tobacco is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease, implicated in over 90 percent of all lung cancers, contributes to cancers at many sites including the larynx, esophagus, kidney, bladder, and cervix, and is a principal risk factor for respiratory illnesses such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Tobacco use also causes damage to non-smokers, for example to spouses, and young children in the smoker’s environment through passive exposure to cigarette smoke. [IDS-COMVAL/RODIELYN A. MANUGAS]
