MQuit launched to help Sabahans quit smoking
KOTA KINABALU: Do you know that one out of four Sabahans are smokers? That makes up to almost 28 per cent of the state’s total population.
For the country as a whole, 23 per cent of the population are smokers. As a result, around 20,000 people die due to smokingrelated diseases each year.
In order to curb smoking in the state, the Health Ministry has opted to launch its mQuit services here at KPJ Sabah Specialist Hospital.
The service aims to assist those who wish to stop smoking.
Speaking to reporters during the launching of mQuit on Friday, the Health Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Chen Chaw Min said the ministry could not curb smoking on its own.
In line with this, the Health Ministry has called upon the private sector, NGOs, associations, universities and other sectors to join hands in accomplishing this mission.
It is understood that KPJ has been at the forefront of this battle as 11 of its hospitals from across the country will be involved in the mQuit project.
All doctors involved will be given special training to give counselling to the smokers who wish to quit.
There will be no fees charged for counselling. However, in the event medication is needed, certain charges will apply.
He also said the Health Ministry had even started going to various work places in the country to further promote an anti-smoking lifestyle.
Among those present at the event were KPJ Healthcare Berhad president cum managing director Datuk Amiruddin Abdul Satar and Sabah Health Department director Datuk Dr Christina Rundi.