The programme will catalyse, build capacity for and establish a high quality, proven tobacco treatment service for people from all social strata
LifeFirst, a tobacco-cessation programme, has been successfully implemented across different social strata. LifeFirst, is a tobacco treatment initiative launched by NGO Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation to catalyse, build capacity for and establish a high quality, proven tobacco treatment service for people from all social strata.
The programme has been implemented in places like hospitals, primary healthcare centres, government health programmes, workplaces, community settings and schools and tobacco cessation rates in these surroundings have been analysed. Data which was released recently from these initiatives has revealed a significant decline in tobacco usage both in public as well as private healthcare set ups after the programme.
It was found that after completion of the programme around 76 per cent people quit consuming tobacco in private tertiary health care settings wherein there was a 45 per cent to 75 per cent decline in tobacco usage in government set ups. Likewise, schools and workplaces too have shown a decrease in tobacco consumption. Analysis shows that under the three year programme, around 62 per cent people quit tobacco at work sites and 82 per cent in schools.
Around 3713 people have been enrolled for the programme and the results are the outcome of the complete six follow up sessions designed by LifeFirst.
LifeFirst service is built upon international evidence base, standards and protocols from the Mayo Clinic, USA, Ottawa model, Canada and National Health Service, UK. It is adapted for the Indian context and modelled on the lines of ‘Treating tobacco-use and dependence: 2008 Clinical practice guidelines’ and the Massachusetts General Hospital’s Tobacco Treatment Service.