Mallow programme will help women give up smoking
STILL puffing away but desperately trying to give up the fags once and for all?
If that sounds familiar, then you might be interested in taking part in a smoking cessation course for women starting in Mallow next Wednesday (September 13).
‘We Can Quit’ is an initiative of the Irish Cancer Society in partnership locally with the Le Cheile Family Resource Centre and the Mallow Community Health Project supported by Mulcahy’s Pharmacy and Cork ETB.
The 12-week programme is free of charge and will offer the opportunity for women to join forces and support each other in their efforts to give up smoking. It is open to all women over the age of 18 who want to kick the habit.
Odharnait Ni Bhuachalla, community cancer prevention officer at the Irish Cancer Society said this is the third time the course has been run in Mallow.
“In fact, over the past fouryears some 300 women in Cork and Dublin have completed the programme and the quit rate has been very high,” she said.
Participants on the programme will receive one-toone support during the groups sessions in addition to being offered 12-weeks of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT).
“Research has shown that smokers who use a combination of group support and two NRT products for a 12-week period and four times more likely to quit and stay smoke-free for good,” said Odharnait.
Martina Daly, community health worker at Le Cheile said the ‘ We Can Quit’ programme has proven to be hugely successful when run in Mallow on previous occasions.
“We want women to know that with the programme they are not alone when they embark on your quitting journey. You will join a group of women who have shared a goal together; with our support you can quit smoking for good,” said Martina.
“It is so fantastic to have witnessed the joy and confidence of the women who have quit with the help of this programme,” she added.
For further details on ‘ We Can Quit’ and to sign up for the programme, contact Martina in Le Cheile FRC on 022-42439, email communityhealthworker@Lecheilefrc.ie or register online at www.cancer.ie/wecan-quit.