AIIMS Bilaspur launches Tobacco Cessation Center as part of national campaign

On September 24, 2024, under the leadership of Hon’ble Union Health Minister Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, along with Minister of State Shri Prataparav Jadhav, Tobacco Cessation Centers (TCCs) were virtually inaugurated across various medical institutions in India, including AIIMS Bilaspur, as part of the Tobacco-Free Youth Campaign 2.0. The clinic at AIIMS Bilaspur will be managed by the Department of Psychiatry, while the Department of Community and Family Medicine will support awareness initiatives.

The event was held under the supervision of AIIMS Bilaspur Director, Professor Dr. Veer Singh Negi, and coordinated by Medical Superintendent, Professor Dr. Dinesh Verma. Dean (Academic) Dr. Sanjay Vikrant and Professor Yatiraj Singhi were present, along with participants from the Psychiatry OPD, including students and the public.

Tobacco use remains a global health crisis, responsible for over 8 million deaths annually, with 1.5 million of these in India alone. Tobacco harms nearly every organ in the body, leading to severe health complications, fatalities, and wide-reaching societal impacts.

Tobacco Cessation Centers offer professional support for quitting tobacco, with AIIMS Bilaspur’s center featuring a multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, psychiatric nurses, and social workers. The center will provide counseling, group therapy, and medical assistance across 4-5 sessions.

During the event, Assistant Professors Dr. Jyoti Gupta and Dr. Bhupendra Yadav (Retd. Lt. Colonel) briefed attendees on the benefits of the TCCs, while nursing officers Urvashi and Anshul Kumari explained the harmful effects of tobacco on physical, mental, and social health, and how the center can assist individuals in overcoming their tobacco addiction.