Teachers as Anti – Tobacco Marshal

Tobacco use is one of the leading causes of preventable death and disease in the world. According to the World Health Organization, tobacco kills more than 8 million people each year, and more than 7 million of those deaths are the result of direct tobacco use while around 1.2 million are the result of non-smokers being exposed to second-hand smoke.

India is the highest consumer of tobacco in the WORLD – it has the highest Oral Cancers and the highest death due to tobacco every day. With about 5500 youths starting tobacco every day and 3700 die every day. A Sustained activity at the school level will bring a change in society.

Tobacco use also harms the environment, contributing to deforestation, soil erosion, water pollution, and climate change. Moreover, tobacco use imposes a huge economic burden on society, as it increases health care costs, reduces productivity, and lowers the quality of life of smokers and their families.

To combat this global health threat, we need to mobilize all sectors of society, including educators. Teachers play a vital role in shaping the attitudes and behaviors of young people, who are the most vulnerable to the influence of tobacco industry marketing and peer pressure. Teachers can also serve as role models for their students by not using tobacco themselves and by promoting a tobacco-free culture in their schools and communities.

That is why we are launching a new initiative called TEACHERS as ANTI – TOBACCO MARSHAL. This initiative aims to empower teachers to become agents of change in the fight against tobacco. By joining this initiative, teachers will receive training and resources on how to educate their students about the harms of tobacco use, how to help them resist tobacco initiation and quit if they already use it, and how to advocate for tobacco control policies at the local and national levels.

Teachers joining this initiative will also become part of a network of like-minded educators who share best practices and experiences on implementing effective tobacco prevention and cessation programs in their schools. They will also have the opportunity to participate in various events and activities that celebrate their achievements and recognize their contributions to the tobacco control movement.

If you are a teacher who wants to make a difference in the lives of your students and your community, we invite you to join TEACHERS as ANTI-TOBACCO MARSHAL today. Together, we can create a tobacco-free generation and a healthier world for everyone.

Join the ICanCaRe Tobacco MARSHAL program – mail to tobaccomarshal@gmail.com

Certified Tobacco Specialist Batch of August – September 2023

CERTIFIED TOBACCO SPECIALIST BATCH OF AUGUST – SEPTEMBER 2023 on 3.9.2023

CERTIFIED TOBACCO SPECIALIST BATCH OF AUGUST – SEPTEMBER 2023 on 3.9.2023

CERTIFIED TOBACCO CESSATION SPECIALIST (CTCS) course accredited by Gujarat University and conducted by ICanCaRe Academy as 18.5 hours of training either online or offline. The August – September batch had physical Training at Faridabad on 13-15th August and the assessment was done online on 3.9.2023.

The physical training saw many advantages with extra interaction, comradeship, and enthusiastic participation in course delivery with live role modeling case discussion and panel discussion. Two Workshops were also conducted “7 star Architectural Intervention” and “The SAND BOX”.

The enthusiastic August-September 2023 Batch of the Certified Tobacco Cessation Specialists course consists of doctors from various disciplines- Pulmonologist, Surgical oncologist, ENT and Head neck Onco-surgeon, Pedodontics, Oral medicine and Radiologist, dental surgeon, Community medicine, Dietitian. They came from all parts of India. For the first time an Anaesthetist, Dr. Neha Agrawal has joined the course and she became the first Anaesthetist of India to be a Certified Tobacco Cessation Specialist.

Certified Tobacco Cessation Specialists are the most important link for #SAVEtheyouth Campaign as they are at the pinnacle and trained extensively for intervention to successfully help quit tobacco for their patients. As a Certified Tobacco Cessation Specialist, it is expected they learn the ABCDEFGH of tobacco Cessation and do ABCD Of Tobacco Cessation for 100% Quit rate with their clients. They are trained on the ICanCaRe APP which makes the intervention simple and protocol-based easy to follow up. They are encouraged to start professional Tobacco Cessation practice.

We welcome each one of them into the ICanCaRe family as they join the #SAVEtheyouth campaign as Certified Tobacco Cessation Specialists.

CTCS course is accredited by Gujarat University and the only such course in India giving practical experience, ICanCaRe APP for digitalized protocol intervention. To know more go to http://www.icancare.in/academy/ctcs It is an 8-week course with dedicated 2.5 hours each week, with a lot of reading material, etc., or 3 days of offline course done physically at any of the ICanCaRe centres of Excellence.

Why Should a Sister Wish her Brother be Tobacco Free

If you have a brother who smokes/chews/vapes tobacco, you might be worried about his health and well-being. Any form of tobacco is harmful. Tobacco is one of the leading causes of preventable death and disease in the world. It can damage the lungs, heart, blood vessels, and other organs. It can also increase the risk of cancer, stroke, heart attack, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). HARMS OF TOBACCO EARLY and LATER are going to show in life!

As a sister, you love your brother and want him to live a long and healthy life. You might also want to protect yourself and your family from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke or tobacco use, which can cause asthma, bronchitis, ear infections, tuberculosis, and other respiratory problems in children and adults.

That’s why you should wish your brother to be tobacco-free. By quitting tobacco, he can improve his health and quality of life. He can also reduce the chances of developing serious illnesses and complications in the future. He can also save money, smell better, and have more energy.

But quitting tobacco is not easy. It takes a lot of courage, determination, and support. As a sister, you can play an important role in helping your brother quit. You can encourage him to seek professional help, such as counseling, medication, or nicotine replacement therapy. You can download the ICanCaRe Tobacco Wellness APP for him and seek help from ICanCaRe Certified Tobacco Cessation Specialists. Call 011-43077695.  You can also offer him emotional support, such as listening to his struggles, praising his efforts, and celebrating his achievements. You can also help him cope with stress, cravings, and withdrawal symptoms by suggesting healthy alternatives, such as exercise, hobbies, or relaxation techniques.

By wishing your brother to be tobacco-free, you are showing him that you care about him and his health. You are also helping him make a positive change that will benefit him and everyone around him. You are being a good sister and a good friend.

A word of assurance will go a long way! Let’s wish all our brothers are tobacco-free! This is the biggest gift on the RAKSHABANDHAN!

Most users, when given the assurance and hand held by a certified tobacco cessation specialist and with ABCD Quit Tobacco Intervention, are more than willing to quit!!!

An ICanCaRe Certified Tobacco Cessation Specialist follows the ABCD Of Tobacco Cessation to help in a 100% quit rate.

Book your appointment today to start a healthy tobacco/smoke-free life with the best in class tobacco/smoking cessation experts at www.icancare.in/quittobacco or call 011-430-77695 for help. Download the ICanCaRe e-cessation app for quitting smoking and tobacco at https://app.icancare.in. 

(The Author – Dr. Pawan Gupta M.Ch. is Director of Surgical Oncology at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Vaishali, Patparganj, and Noida. He is the author of the books – Win Over Tobacco Made Easy, Be Smart Do Not Start and is highly recognized for his work on Oral Cancer and Tobacco Cessation. He is the convenor for the Certified Course in Tobacco Cessation at Gujarat University, and has trained more than 1000 doctors to be tobacco cessation specialists).