Government of Canada invests in smoking cessation programs in Manitoba

Partnership with Manitoba Tobacco Reduction Alliance to increase resources for Manitobans trying to quit smoking.

WINNIPEG, July 30, 2015 /CNW/ - The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health, today announced funding of $600,000 for a project that will expand smoking cessation programs across the province of Manitoba.

Led by the Manitoba Tobacco Reduction Alliance (MANTRA), the project will establish a certification program in tobacco addiction treatment at the University of Manitoba, known as TEACH (Training Enhancement in Applied Cessation Counselling and Health), so that more healthcare professionals can be trained in smoking cessation counselling.

The project will also expand Cancer Care Manitoba's Quit Smoking program from one to seven  outreach centres across the province, where local health care professionals will also receive TEACH training. This means that more Manitobans will have access to healthcare professionals trained specifically in tobacco addiction treatment to guide and support them in their efforts to quit smoking.

Tobacco cessation is a complex challenge that requires innovative actions from government, industry, non-governmental organizations and other partners, in addition to changes in individual behaviour. Through projects such as these, the Government of Canada is working with partners to better support Canadians in their efforts to quit smoking.

Quick Facts

• The Public Health Agency of Canada is investing nearly $600,000 in this project, while MANTRA, the University of Manitoba and other project partners are providing additional funding for a total investment of approximately $1.6 million over three years.
• This is one of many partnerships made under the Government of Canada's Multi-Sectoral Partnership Approach to Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention, which invests approximately $20 million per year in projects that focus on addressing common risk factors, such as unhealthy eating, physical inactivity, and smoking, to prevent chronic disease.
• Research suggests that attempts to stop smoking are more likely to be successful when smokers are able to access the help of a qualified health care provider trained in smoking cessation.
• TEACH was developed at the University of Toronto's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and has been in use since 2007 by practitioners in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta to help patients quit smoking.
• Tobacco use is one of the leading risk factors for chronic disease such as cancer, respiratory and cardiovascular disease. The risk of heart disease is cut in half after one year of quitting smoking, and the odds of getting many diseases go down the longer you are smoke free.
• Since the inception of the Federal Tobacco Control Strategy in 2001, Canada has invested more than $650 million to help Canadians quit smoking and to prevent Canadians from starting to smoke.

Quotes

"Many Canadians struggle to quit smoking. However, having the support of a trained healthcare professional can dramatically increase their chances of success in staying smoke-free. This project will help ensure that more healthcare professionals are trained and ready to help Manitobans. Our Government is working with the Manitoba Tobacco Reduction Alliance (MANTRA) and its partners to help more Canadians quit smoking permanently and live healthier, longer lives."
The Honourable Rona Ambrose
Minister of Health

"The Government of Canada's investment in building and enhancing the tobacco cessation capacity of health professional interveners will result in reduced smoking rates and improved health for Manitobans.  Post-graduate training is being offered to front-line health professionals and those graduating from our Health Science academic units are being prepared in advance to provide effective smoking cessation interventions.  Funding made available through the Government of Canada has enabled the involvement of key partners to make this happen."
Murray Gibson
Executive Director, Manitoba Tobacco Reduction Alliance (MANTRA)

Associated Links

MANTRA
Cancer Care Manitoba
University of Manitoba

SOURCE Public Health Agency of Canada

Contacts: Michael Bolkenius, Office of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Federal Minister of Health, [phone], Public Health Agency of Canada; Media Relations, [phone]; Public Inquiries: [phone], 1-866 225-0709