Help on quitting before Ramadan

Photo: Picture: ANTHONY MILLER

Pictured (from the left) are Amina Khatun (interpreter), visitor Chan Miah , Liz Woodworth (Stop Smoking Service) and Dr Zuber Ahmed

LOCAL Muslims will be given targeted support in a bid to help them quit smoking before Ramadan.

Specialised one-stop shops will be held within the communities of Clarksfield, Glodwick, Coppice and Werneth. The first sessions were held on Wednesday at the Pakistani community centre, Marlborough Street, Glodwick, and at Coppice Community Centre, Werneth Hall Road.

Local GP Dr Zuber Ahmed provided prescriptions for nicotine replacements at the sessions which are being run by Oldham Community Health Services’ specialist stop-smoking service.

People who visit will be seen by an adviser and it is hoped they will carry on attending sessions and eventually quit the habit for good.

Nomir Haris, stop-smoking adviser for Black Minority Ethnic communities, said: “It is likely that Muslims will smoke more heavily in the evenings during Ramadan because they are unable to smoke during the day. So we want to offer help to stop before Ramadan.”

Advisers who can speak languages such as Bangla, Urdu, Pari and Punjabi will be on hand to help.

For further details about the one-stop shops or to get help and advice on stopping smoking, contact Oldham specialist stop-smoking service on 0800-328 8534 or 0844-873 0032.