Independent Member for Alfred Cove Dr Janet Woollard will be launching a newly established nicotine addiction treatment program run by the Rockingham Kwinana Division of General Practice (RKDGP) on Friday, 29 May 2009.

The new program is one of the two which has received a two-year funding by Australian Better Health Initiative through Department of Health, Health Networks to develop best practice in nicotine addiction treatment program through primary care.

“As a firm advocate of tobacco control, I am pleased to be able to launch a program which will help many individuals to give up smoking and lead a healthier life,” said Dr Woollard.

Dr Woollard said the program will provide targeted one-to-one smoking cessation within the local community, targeting at least 750 patients over the two years. It is a partnership between the RKDGP, WA Health Networks, Goldfields Esperance GP Network, South Metropolitan Public Health Unit and WA Country Health Services, Goldfields.

“Smoking cessation programs at a general practice level provides a good opportunity for individuals to kick the habit and manage their health with the support of the community, while relieving the stress on hospital resources.

“As there is a higher prevalence of smokers and chronic disease sufferers in Rockingham/Kwinana compared to Perth1 , I am sure the program will be a great success.

“Smoking is still the largest single and most preventable cause of death and disease, where 50% of regular smokers die early because of their smoking habits. The ill-effects of second-hand smoke have been well documented.

“Smoking kills 15,000 Australians including 1,400 West Australians annually. There are still 300,000 adult smokers in WA and each year 9,000 children taking up smoking.

“500 children are hospitalised each year in WA due to illnesses related to tobacco products and a recent study by the University of WA found that 384 of the children were less than four years old.

“The success of the RKDGP’s program, as well as others like it will not only benefit the individual, but also their families and community,” said Dr Woollard.

Dr Woollard said the new nicotine addiction treatment program is being launched at an opportune time as 31 May 2009 is ‘World No Tobacco Day’.

“In recognition of their contribution, I will be presenting RKDGP with the ‘Promote a Smoke-Free Community’ certificate at the launch,” said Dr Woollard.

The certificate has been established by the Australian Council on Smoking and Health, Australian Medical Association (WA) and the Heart Foundation, to recognise retailers, businesses and other organisations for being responsible corporate citizens in choosing to actively create a healthy, smoke-free community.

This is the second certificate to be presented. The first ‘Promote a Smoke-Free Community’ certificate was presented to The Good Grocer, a supermarket in Applecross which banned the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products at its store, in March.

[1] Public Health Information Development Unit. 2008. A Social Health Atlas of Australia (Third Edition), Western Australia, 2008 (online) http://www.publichealth.gov.au/interactive_mapping/aust_sla_online_2008/wa/atlas.swf