The Ministry of Health and Mass Media has launched a series of training programmes aimed at equipping healthcare workers with psychological intervention techniques to prevent tobacco use and support users in quitting.
Director of the Non-Communicable Diseases Unit, Dr Sreeni Alahapperuma, said the initiative focuses on the “Brief Intervention” psychological approach, which enables health personnel to encourage behavioural change among tobacco users through short counselling sessions.
She noted that the approach is designed to raise awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco use within a few minutes and motivate individuals to reduce or stop the habit.
The first workshop in the series is scheduled to be held on June 15 at the auditorium of the Colombo District Director of Health Services Office, with Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Prabath Wickrama serving as the main resource person.
Medical Officers of Health, Health Education Officers, Public Health Inspectors and Public Health Midwives are among the field health staff expected to participate in the programme.
The training initiative is being organised jointly by the Non-Communicable Diseases Unit of the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, the College of Psychiatrists of Sri Lanka, the Alcohol and Drug Information Centre (ADIC), and the Colombo District Director of Health Services Office.
According to Dr Alahapperuma, the second workshop will be held on June 16 at the auditorium of the Piliyandala Medical Officer of Health Office. (NewsWire)
