Local women quit smoking with help from ‘We Can Quit Programme’

By Maurice Garvey

A GROUP of women from Tallaght and Bluebell ended the year in healthy style, after completing a programme that saw them quit smoking.

Up to 18 women recently completed a free programme called ‘We Can Quit’ which aims to help women join forces to quit smoking together.

They took part in courses, one in Fettercairn Resource Centre and another in the Bluebell Community Centre.

We Can Quit is an initiative of the Irish Cancer Society, in partnership with HSE Health Promotion and Improvement, South Dublin County Council, Fettercairn Community Health Project, South Dublin County Partnership, Dublin South City Partnership, Canal Communities, Dolphin CDA, Fatima Groups United, St Teresa’s Gardens, and local pharmacies.

The women began their 12-week programme in September, attending weekly group sessions, one to one support meetings, as well as receiving Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) to the value of €450 free of charge.

The programme was open to female smokers over the age of 18 years, living in Tallaght and Bluebell.

Rachel Burke, Community Cancer Prevention Officer at the Irish Cancer Society congratulated the women for their achievement.

Ms Burke said: “Giving up smoking is hard. But We Can Quit offers women support and encouragement to get through it.

“This is our second time running the programme in Tallaght and our first time running it in Bluebell. We have many women across the area who have managed to successfully quit smoking as a result of the initiative and we look forward to welcoming more women to our next course in January.”

To register for the next course, visit www.cancer.ie/we-can-quit or contact Rachel Burke rburke@irishcancer.ie or call 2316669.