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Tobacco Cessation Committee – Teerthanker Mahaveer Medical College & Research Centre

Commitment to a Smoke-Free and Healthy Campus
Teerthanker Mahaveer Medical College & Research Centre (TMMCRC), a constituent institution of Teerthanker Mahaveer University (TMU), proudly upholds the University’s comprehensive Smoke-Free Campus Policy, reflecting its unwavering commitment to health, safety, and social responsibility.

The policy ensures that all indoor and outdoor spaces across the campus remain completely free from the use of tobacco and tobacco-related products. This initiative not only safeguards the physical health of students, staff, and visitors but also promotes a culture of wellness, awareness, and mutual respect.

By reducing both active and passive exposure to smoke, TMDCRC reinforces the University’s dedication to creating an environment conducive to learning, healing, and personal growth. The smoke-free campus is a tangible reflection of TMU’s mission to align institutional values with Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being), promoting preventive healthcare and fostering a responsible academic community.

Formation of the Tobacco Cessation Committee

In line with the guidelines issued by the National Medical Commission (NMC), New Delhi, TMMCRC has established a dedicated Tobacco Cessation Committee (TCC) to implement, monitor, and strengthen anti-tobacco measures within the institution and its surrounding communities.
The formation of this committee underscores the college’s proactive compliance with national health policies and its broader commitment to public health education.
The NMC has emphasized the need for Tobacco Cessation Centres (TCCs) in all medical and allied health institutions as part of a national strategy to curb tobacco use and prevent associated morbidities.
Adhering to these directives, TMMCRC constituted its committee under the aegis of the University’s Smoke-Free Campus and Wellness Policy.
The committee includes senior faculty members, medical officers, dental specialists, community health experts, student representatives, and administrative members.
It operates under the guidance of the Dean of TMDCRC, ensuring that every action taken aligns with the institution’s ethical, academic, and social framework.
Regular meetings are conducted to review progress, update strategies in accordance with the evolving NMC directives, and design interventions that address both on-campus and community needs.
The committee’s composition reflects a multidisciplinary approach, integrating the expertise of dental public health, behavioral sciences, community medicine, and social work to promote holistic tobacco cessation initiatives.

Tobacco Cessation Committe

Tobacco Cessation Committee Members take the Oath

Objectives of the Tobacco Cessation Committee

The Tobacco Cessation Committee (TCC) has been established with clear objectives that encompass both preventive and curative dimensions of health promotion. Its key goals include:

  • Policy Implementation and Enforcement: To ensure strict adherence to TMU’s Smoke-Free Campus Policy across all academic, clinical, and residential zones. The committee oversees signage installation, routine inspections, and awareness campaigns to maintain compliance.
  • Health Promotion and Education: To conduct sustained awareness drives, lectures, and outreach programs on the harmful effects of tobacco use, focusing on both active smokers and those exposed to passive smoke.
  • Cessation Support Services: To operate the Tobacco Cessation Centre (TCC), offering professional counseling, motivation therapy, and pharmacological assistance to individuals seeking to quit tobacco use.
  • Capacity Building: To train faculty, interns, and students in tobacco cessation counseling skills, thereby enabling them to serve as advocates and change agents within their communities.
  • Community Outreach: To extend cessation and awareness activities beyond campus boundaries through collaborations with local schools, primary health centers, and non-governmental organizations.
  • Monitoring and Evaluation: To collect data, review intervention outcomes, and evaluate the effectiveness of cessation programs. The findings inform continuous improvements in strategy and implementation.
  • Alignment with National Health Priorities: To support India’s commitment to the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) and align institutional efforts with NMC and WHO recommendations for tobacco reduction and public health enhancement.

Roles and Responsibilities of the Committee

The Tobacco Cessation Committee serves as a pivotal body that integrates educational, clinical, and community-based functions. Its core responsibilities include:

  • Conducting campus audits to ensure adherence to smoke-free regulations.
  • Developing educational materials and distributing brochures, posters, and digital content related to tobacco hazards.
  • Organizing training sessions for faculty and students on behavioral modification and motivational interviewing techniques.
  • Establishing referral pathways between the Dental OPD, Department of Public Health Dentistry, and the Tobacco Cessation Centre.
  • Celebrating World No Tobacco Day and other health observances with thematic events, competitions, and expert interactions.
  • Maintaining updated records of committee meetings, action plans, and outcomes for institutional and accreditation documentation.
  • Reporting periodic updates to the IQAC and University administration, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Tobacco Cessation Centre (TCC) – Extending Impact Beyond Campus

Beyond ensuring a tobacco-free campus, TMDCRC extends its commitment to the wider community through its Tobacco Cessation Centre, which functions as an integral arm of the committee.
The Centre provides evidence-based counseling, awareness sessions, and cessation therapies for local residents, patients, and attendants visiting the hospital.
The TCC operates with the philosophy that tobacco dependence is both a medical condition and a behavioral challenge that requires sustained support.
Under the supervision of dental public health experts and psychologists, the Centre offers:

  • Individual and group counseling sessions tailored to the level of dependence.
  • Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) guidance where clinically indicated.
  • Awareness camps conducted in collaboration with NSS units and local NGOs.
  • Follow-up consultations to track progress and prevent relapse.
  • Community education programs emphasizing the health, economic, and social costs of tobacco use.
Through these integrated efforts, the TCC plays a vital role in reducing tobacco-related morbidity and mortality while empowering individuals to make informed health choices.

Collaborations and Training Initiatives

To strengthen its cessation programs, TMDCRC maintains collaborations with government agencies, public health departments, and professional associations involved in tobacco control.
Faculty members and postgraduate students regularly attend National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) workshops, World No Tobacco Day seminars, and training programs by NMC-recognized bodies.
These engagements help the institution remain updated with the latest guidelines, counseling techniques, and research in tobacco control.
The committee also encourages student research projects focusing on behavioral patterns, awareness levels, and cessation outcomes within local populations.

Awareness and Advocacy Activities

Under the Tobacco Cessation Committee, numerous awareness events are organized throughout the year to sustain community engagement.
Activities include poster-making competitions, elocution contests, health exhibitions, rallies, role plays, and interactive talks emphasizing the consequences of tobacco consumption.
Winners and participants are felicitated with certificates and appreciation letters, encouraging continuous involvement in health advocacy.
Digital campaigns and informational videos produced by students are shared on university social media platforms, extending the campaign’s visibility beyond campus walls.
Such initiatives empower the youth to act as ambassadors of health and responsibility, embodying TMU’s values of compassion, service, and integrity.

Monitoring and Policy Reinforcement

The Committee meets periodically to assess progress, review new policy updates from the National Medical Commission, and adapt institutional practices accordingly.
Inspections are conducted to ensure compliance with signage requirements, sales prohibitions, and awareness displays in and around the campus.
Feedback mechanisms are established to address violations, and corrective actions are documented and reported.
The Committee also submits an Annual Tobacco Control Report to the University administration summarizing achievements, challenges, and strategic recommendations.

Conclusion

The Tobacco Cessation Committee of Teerthanker Mahaveer Medical College & Research Centre stands as a model of proactive public health governance and institutional responsibility.
Through the combined efforts of education, enforcement, counseling, and community service, the Committee exemplifies how universities can extend their influence beyond academic excellence to nurture a generation of health-conscious and socially responsible citizens.
By integrating tobacco control into its academic, clinical, and social mission, TMDCRC not only upholds the National Medical Commission’s guidelines but also contributes meaningfully to India’s vision of a tobacco-free future.
The institution’s holistic approach—encompassing prevention, cessation, and policy enforcement—continues to inspire students and community members alike to embrace healthier lifestyles, ensuring that the legacy of a smoke-free campus endures for generations to come.