Lifecare Hospital, Baniyas - a unit of VPS Healthcare has initiated its ‘Step Up Campaign’ for a healthier lifestyle at numerous labour camps for workers, as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme.

The three-month campaign is designed to create awareness about the ill-effects of smoking and to get the maximum number of people to quit smoking – a small step towards a bigger goal.

The first phase of the campaign is ‘Access’ – through cricket tournaments in various camps for the residents, the smokers are identified and motivated to enroll in the quit smoking initiative.

The phase two is ‘Counseling,’ where the participants who have enrolled in the quit smoking campaign will be encouraged to visit Lifecare Hospital, Baniyas for counselling sessions by various doctors in their native languages and shown presentation on the ill- effects of smoking.

In the final phase ‘Support and follow up’ - the campaign has introduced yoga and laughter therapy to reduce the stress levels among the participants.

Furthermore, the participants are given fruit baskets, lunch coupons and various gift hampers to support and motivate them in their journey towards a smoke-free life.

Dr Micheal Sobhy Awad, specialist Internal Medicine, Lifecare Hospital, Baniyas, said that smoking is a major health concern with direct relation to respiratory disorders, cancers and cardio vascular diseases. Getting one person to quit not only affects that single individual but will also affect the people around them. - TradeArabia News Service