Eastern Regional promotes anti-smoking action
Activity, held at the unit's reception, involved users and companions
On this Wednesday (3), the Public Regional Hospital of the East (HRPL), in Paragominas, promoted a health education activity focused on combating smoking for users and companions. The action, which took place in the central reception of the unit, was conducted by the Humanization Commission (CH), reinforcing the hospital's commitment to health promotion and community awareness.
The Occupational Safety technician, Luciana Vieira, who acted as one of the facilitators of the action, highlighted that the campaign aims to stimulate reflection and awareness about the negative impacts of smoking on individual and collective health.
“The intent was to alert about the harms of cigarettes and present strategies for smart substitutions that can help reduce and control this addiction that is so harmful to society,” she explained.
The Human Resources assistant of the Eastern Regional, Ádria Maria, evaluated the anti-smoking campaign as a very beneficial initiative and emphasized the importance of actions aimed at raising awareness on the subject. According to her, users reported the difficulty in quitting the addiction but considered the calendar and smart substitutions as good strategies to be applied throughout the month. “I hope we have impacted the lives of our users,” she stated.
“I learned about the campaign through the disclosure. I have some smoking relatives, which is very difficult because it harms their health, as well as ours. I used to smoke and stopped for my daughters, and today I pass on to them about the harm that this addiction does. These campaigns are very important because, through them, it is possible to influence people to adopt healthier habits,” said the seller Eliene de Jesus Oliveira, 40, who was at HRPL for a consultation with the gynecologist.
The nurse from the Permanent Education Center (NEP), Rafaela Cecília Sodré, emphasizes that information can save lives and combating smoking is essential to build a more conscious, healthy, and responsible society. Among the suggestions to combat the urge to smoke, the professional highlighted: keeping hands and mouths busy; eating fruits; using sugar-free gum or candies; consuming cold drinks; chewing carrot and/or celery sticks, which also helps relieve cravings; engaging in physical activities; having hobbies and activities like reading, listening to music, and painting.
Campaign - This year, the National Day Against Smoking, celebrated annually in August, was conducted by the National Cancer Institute (Inca) and the Ministry of Health and had as its theme “Comprehensive care in tobacco control.” The goal is to reinforce national actions to raise awareness and mobilize the Brazilian population regarding the health, social, political, economic, and environmental damages caused by the consumption of tobacco products.
Smoking is a serious threat to global health, killing more than eight million people each year, 1.3 million due to passive smoking. Tobacco smoke contains more than seven thousand compounds and chemicals, and studies indicate that at least 69 of these cause cancer (INCA, 2024).
Service:
The Public Regional Hospital of the East is part of the health network of the Government of Pará, under the administration of the Institute Diretrizes, in partnership with the State Department of Public Health (Sespa). Address: Rua Adelaide Bernardes, s/n, Nova Conquista neighborhood, Paragominas. Information: 0800 580 3291.
Text: Pedro Amorim
