National Resource Centre for Oral Health at MAIDS Delhi organizes tobacco cessation training workshop
New Delhi: India has a high burden of tobacco use, which is a major cause of death and disease. Globally, eight million deaths are reported every year due to tobacco use and in India around 4500 deaths are reported. 1/3rd of the Indian population consumes some form of tobacco and stays addicted.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India has started many initiatives to address this huge burden from National Tobacco Quitline Services, M-Cessation to establishing Tobacco Cessation Clinics. The Ministry in collaboration with the Dental Council of India introduced the Operational Guidelines to establish tobacco cessation centres in dental colleges in the year 2018. Since then, 302 tobacco cessation clinics have been established across the country. Further, to strengthen and standardize the delivery of tobacco cessation by dental professionals. The ministry under the National Oral Health program created the first National Resource Centre for Oral Health and tobacco cessation at Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences in the year 2021.
The NRC has been working with a vision to develop, implement and advance the scope of dental health professionals in tobacco cessation from addressing patient care, research and building capacity along with integration in dental education. The NRC has now trained 250+ faculty and dental professionals representatives from more than 10 states.
The program was inaugurated by Smt. Aradhana Patnaik Additional Secretary and Mission Director National Health Mission (NHM), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India in presence of Shri. S.K. Jain, Special Secretary, Deptt. Of health and family welfare, GNCT of Delhi, Dr. L. Swasticharan, Addl. DDG, NOHP, MOHFW, Prof.(Dr.) Mahesh Verma, Vice Chancellor of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi. And Vice Chancellor Of Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences And Research University, Professor Emeritus and former director – principle MAIDS. Dr. Ankita Jain, Member of Dental Council of India and Dr. Ashok Dhoble- Hon. Secretary General, IDA and Director- Principal, MAIDS, Prof. Arundeep Kaur Lamba along with dignitaries from various other dental institutions in Delhi and around.
The training programs by the National Resource Centre are well structured and designed by more than 25 technical experts from NIMHAS, AIIMS, MAIDS and other imminent Medical and Dental Institutions across the country. This significant event aimed to enhance the skills and knowledge of dental professionals across India, enabling them to provide more effective and comprehensive tobacco cessation services to their patients.
Participants had the opportunity to engage in interactive sessions, case discussions, and hands-on training, covering a wide range of topics to address the tobacco addiction needs of patients visiting these cessation clinics.
During this event, the National Resource Centre for Oral Health and Tobacco Cessation awarded various States/Union Territories, Dental Colleges and IDA branches for excellence in conducting various activities to promote anti-tobacco awareness and cessation services. This time nearly 230 entries were received and 12 awards were given in this competitive event.
The NRC has now entered an MoU with ECHO-India and will shortly launch the 3-month online training module for tobacco cessation for dental professionals. Today a lot simple and scientifically validated health education materials were also released by the Chief Guest.
The NRC intends to reach out to all the Dental Professionals in States and Union territories along with 300+ Dental Colleges to standardize and deliver evidence-based tobacco cessation clinical services and develop a strong network of clinics.
The Ministry and National Resource Centre are working together to deliver care to our communities, patients and work towards bringing change while making our country healthier and tobacco-free.
