Dear DSP1402
Had it not been posted by you, I might have thought it to be a humorous piece.
Yes indeed, it is a big problem, but manageable up to the extent of making people refrain from dirtying the office premises.
It is difficult to make people abstain or quit the Pan/gutkha habit; as nicotine is a much powerful addiction than even alcohol.
A few dreadful pictures will only have a very short effect. See, even the horrible pictures that are now printed on every cigarette pack sold in India, has not deterred smokers.
It is a different thing that you can persuade a friend - as cited by one of our member - to refrain from this habit; but the real credit goes not to the scariness of pictures; but on the sweetness and strength of friendship. In fact this is the only possible cure - Hope Dr.V.S. Rege would agree.
Simply educating them does not work. I have tried this by:
Do you think people do not know? They just do not care, or, are not strong enough to withstand the addiction.
The only method that worked during my tenure in a large manufacturing plant; that too partially, was to have doctors from Medical Posts, Health centre s and Occupational Health Services Centre inside the plan,to hold camps for medical examination of addicts, and demonstrate to the employees the following:
Another useful method is to create "opinion leaders"-and-friend among their colleagues, who can keep a watch to motivate such employees. They are especially effective, when you find people having the despisable practice of talking with their mouth full of saliva and gutkha.
Counselling the family of the employee, too works to some extent.
Regards
Had it not been posted by you, I might have thought it to be a humorous piece.
Yes indeed, it is a big problem, but manageable up to the extent of making people refrain from dirtying the office premises.
It is difficult to make people abstain or quit the Pan/gutkha habit; as nicotine is a much powerful addiction than even alcohol.
A few dreadful pictures will only have a very short effect. See, even the horrible pictures that are now printed on every cigarette pack sold in India, has not deterred smokers.
It is a different thing that you can persuade a friend - as cited by one of our member - to refrain from this habit; but the real credit goes not to the scariness of pictures; but on the sweetness and strength of friendship. In fact this is the only possible cure - Hope Dr.V.S. Rege would agree.
Simply educating them does not work. I have tried this by:
- holding seminars, talks on "No Smoking Day", and on other occasions,
- distributed pamphlets with pictures,
- posters inside the plant/work-place,
- article on in-house Occupational Health magazine and other house magazines,
- having a few sessions, over the years by the "Ayshmaan Bhavo" organisation; etc.
Do you think people do not know? They just do not care, or, are not strong enough to withstand the addiction.
The only method that worked during my tenure in a large manufacturing plant; that too partially, was to have doctors from Medical Posts, Health centre s and Occupational Health Services Centre inside the plan,to hold camps for medical examination of addicts, and demonstrate to the employees the following:
- how the mucous membrane inside their cheeks have changed or thickened, and
- how their mouth does not open fully - in a healthy mouth all the fingers of a hand, when placed together can enter up to the second knuckle; whereas in a habituated persons mouth, the fingers can enter only up to the first knuckle, with difficulty.
- ask the employees to try it; it is really scary, when you demonstrate it along with a 'healthy' person alongside.
- smokers were shown their "lung function" test and compared with non-smokers.
Another useful method is to create "opinion leaders"-and-friend among their colleagues, who can keep a watch to motivate such employees. They are especially effective, when you find people having the despisable practice of talking with their mouth full of saliva and gutkha.
Counselling the family of the employee, too works to some extent.
Regards