IPOH: The Health Ministry today encouraged smokers who wished to quit to join a free programme called MQuit.
Its deputy minister Dr Lee Boon Chye said the ministry has teamed up with those from the pharmacy community and private hospitals to offer the programme to encourage more smokers to kick the bad habit.
Lee said the ministry was taking this matter seriously as statistics show that 11.7 per cent of teenagers were still smoking.
"This is not an encouraging trend.
“As such, the ministry has taken several measures including the MQuit programme that was introduced in 2012. Smokers can go to 731 health clinics nationwide and 46 general hospitals which provide the facilities to help them quit,” he said.
Dr Lee said this in a press conference after declaring a no-smoking area at the Ipoh YMCA building in Jalan Raja Musa Aziz, here, today.
“Between 2012 and 2017, a total of 12,400 smokers signed up for the programme. It is clearly proven that the programme is a success.
“Out of three participants, one will completely quit smoking while the other two, they normally reduce the amount they smoke,” he said adding that in Perak, smokers can go to the health clinics in Greentown, Gunung Rapat and Jelapang to join the programme.
Those who are interested can visit jomquit.moh.gov.my.
MQuit program provides customised plans to quit smoking, resources and advice on quitting the habit, comprehensive follow-up sessions by dedicated healthcare professionals and nicotine replacement therapy to facilitate smoking cessation.